Cozell McQueen, a towering figure on NC State’s 1983 national championship basketball team, has died at the age of 64. The school confirmed his passing on Wednesday night, though a cause of death was not shared.
Standing 6 foot 11, McQueen played for the Wolfpack from 1981 to 1985 under legendary coach Jim Valvano. He served as a reserve center during his career and put up modest but steady numbers, averaging around 5.3 points and 6 rebounds per game across his four seasons in Raleigh.
A Championship Moment Fans Still Remember
McQueen’s most lasting image came right after NC State’s stunning upset of Houston in the 1983 title game. He climbed to the top of the backboard alongside freshman teammate Ernie Myers, celebrating high above the rim while the rest of the team cut down the nets below. That scene became one of the most recognizable snapshots from the Wolfpack’s improbable championship run.
Born in Paris, France, McQueen was raised in Bennettsville, South Carolina before landing at NC State. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth round of the 1985 NBA Draft, and he later saw limited action in the league with both the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers.
Fourth Member of Title Team to Pass
McQueen’s death marks the fourth loss from that beloved 1983 championship squad, following head coach Jim Valvano, Lorenzo Charles, who hit the game-winning dunk against Houston, and Quinton Leonard. Charles died in a bus crash in 2011 at just 47 years old.
McQueen had faced a health scare last year when he underwent treatment for a brain tumor, from which he had reportedly made a full recovery.
The Wolfpack program honored McQueen in a statement, saying it was saddened by his passing and that its thoughts were with his family, friends and former teammates who knew him best.
McQueen remained closely tied to NC State long after his playing days ended. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame alongside the rest of the 1983 title team in 2019, was recognized at the White House in 2016, and returned to campus as recently as 2023 when the team celebrated the 40th anniversary of its championship.
His legacy as part of one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in college basketball history remains firmly cemented in Wolfpack lore.
