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1965 teammates place plaque in downtown Tryon to honor Harthorne Wingo

TRYON—High school teammates of basketball great Harthorne Wingo placed a plaque over the weekend to honor and remember their friend. 

Wingo, of Tryon, is the only local resident to make it to the NBA. 

Wingo died on Jan. 20 this year and his 1965 teammates rallied to honor him. There was a fundraiser held with the Harlem Globetrotters and other individuals donated money to the cause. 

The plaque is located downtown at 22 North Trade Street. 

 Wingo was born in Tryon and attended Edmund Embury High School then graduated from Tryon High School in the first integrated class of 1965. Wingo traveled by bus following graduating high school to New York City where he began playing basketball with professional players at the famed Rucker Park. 

He was named one of the top 50 players to ever compete in the Rucker Park Pro League and after playing with the Harlem Wizards, played for the New York Knicks. 

Wingo played in 1973 for the Knicks in their NBA championship season and became a fan favorite until 1976. 

Wingo later traveled to Europe and continued to play basketball. 

After his retirement he returned to Brooklyn, NY.