Last month, Detroit Miller High, Wayne (State) University, and Harlem Globetrotters alumnus Charlie “Kingsnake” Primas was the speaker at the Motor City Youth Initiative’s monthly workshop at Church of Christ-Elmwood Park. Primas, a 1954 Abe Saperstein College Basketball All-American, recalled to his four-year professional basketball career, as well as his days growing up and working in Detroit, as he shared words of wisdom with the young men and women of the MCYI.

Primas, who was born in 1932 in Shuquluak, Miss., developed his game at Detroit’s Franklin-Settlement under the guidance of Joseph Beattie, the center’s director, and George Patton, the center’s custodian, who unlocked the gym after hours and allowed Primas to stay in the center, shooting baskets, long after the center was closed.

It was at Franklin-Settlement, the same center that years later would groom NBA great George “Iceman” Gervin, that Primas was introduced to the legendary Miller High School coach, Will Robinson, who was also a part-time Franklin-Settlement employee.

Primas’ first interscholastic athletic experience came at Detroit Barbour Intermediate School, where he was a classmate of future Major League Baseball player and manager Joe Altobelli, and future Kentucky State University Hall of Famer and Canadian Football League player Harry Mackey. Primas and Mackey matriculated to the talent-laden Miller High, where they joined future professional athletes Eugene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb (football and wrestling), Dave Mann (baseball), and Walt Jenkins (football). Primas, who spent all three years on the varsity, led his Trojan basketball teams to three straight City Championships.

Primas’ fine career was recognized by The Detroit News, which named him as a first-team selection on its 1949-50 All-State team. This team included future NBA players Art Spoelstra (Godwin Heights) and Guy Sparrow (Pontiac), and future Harlem Globetrotter and MCYI co-founder Ernie Wagner (Detroit Northern/Northeastern).

As a sign of the times, the University of Detroit and Wayne (State) University were the only two schools that offered Primas an opportunity to play college ball. Primas chose Wayne, where he enjoyed a record-setting career. During his years at Wayne, Primas teamed with future Harlem Globetrotters “Jumpin’” Johnny Kline (Detroit Northwestern/Northeastern) and Ernie Wagner to shake up collegiate basketball with their skills and the forward thinking of their coach, Joel Mason.

It was under Mason that, in 1951, Wayne became the first non-historically Black college to play five African Americans together at the same time. During Primas’ college career, the Tartars (now Warriors), who were nationally-ranked at least as high as 18th, defeated major college teams like Georgetown, Memphis State, and ninth-ranked Duquesne with future NBAer Dick Ricketts. In addition, they split games with St. Francis of Pennsylvania, with NBA-legend Maurice Stokes, and 20th-ranked Niagara, which featured future NBAers Ed Fleming, five-time NBA All-Star Larry Costello, and future Harlem Globetrotter Charlie Hoxie.

Primas graduated from Wayne as the school’s record holder for points in a game, points in a season, points in a career, highest career scoring average, most free throws in a season, most rebounds, and best field goal and free throw shooting percentages. These accomplishments contributed to his being named a 1954 Abe Saperstein All-American. This honor made Primas only the fourth Detroit Public School alumnus ever to earn College All-American honors for basketball. (Detroit Northwestern’s Ernie McCoy and Detroit Northeastern’s Joseph Truskowski/Truske were All-Americans for the University of Michigan in 1929, and Primas’ teammate, John Kline, was an All-American in 1953.)

Primas went on to play three seasons with the Harlem Globetrotters and one season with Leon Hillard’s Harlem Ambassadors. Primas also played one season in the United States Army, during his Trotters’ career, on a team that included NBAers Tom Marshall and Al Bianchi, who had also been drafted into the military.

During Primas’ years with the Trotters, he was twice selected to play in the team’s post-season World Series of Basketball against a team of college All-Americans. He also played part of his career with the organization’s elite Eastern Unit, which played doubleheaders with the NBA to keep the fledgling league alive.

Primas’ talented teammates with the Trotters included Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson; one-time NBA players Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton, Andy Johnson, Woody Sauldsberry, Jesse Arnelle and Walter Dukes; and one-time American Basketball Association player Willis Thomas. George “Meadowlark” Lemon, and Motor City stars Bobby “Showboat” Hall (Detroit Russell), Murphy Summons (Detroit Northwestern), Sammy Gee (Detroit Miller), and Ernie Wagner were other crowd favorites.

Primas followed his athletic career by working nearly four decades teaching and administrating in Detroit at Bennett School and the Youth Home School. Primas has been and continues to be extremely active in the politics and culture of the city of Detroit. He was considered one of the five closest people to the late Mayor Coleman A. Young, and he maintains a strong relationship with current Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Primas also is the backbone of the Miller High School Alumni Association.

Speaking to the MCYI is just one of the ways this basketball legend, Charlie Primas, continues to demonstrate that he learned well from the mentors of his youth.

The Motor City Youth Initiative is a non-profit 501© 3 organization. Anyone interested in donating time or resources is encouraged to contact Ernie Wagner at (313) 989-8768.