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Basketball Unforgettable Legends: James "Big Game James" Worthy

James Ager Worthy (born February 27, 1961 in Gastonia, North Carolina) is a retired American college and professional basketball player. Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m), he played small forward.

James Worthy was an All-American high school player at Ashbrook High School, in Gastonia, North Carolina. Worthy averaged 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in his senior year, for a team that lost in the state championship game. Worthy went on to attend the University of North Carolina. He quickly became a stand-out basketball player and was a key member and leading scorer (15.6 points per game) of that school's 1982 NCAA championship team. Worthy was also named to the Sporting News All-American First Team. The 1981-1982 North Carolina team also featured Sam Perkins and a freshman named Michael Jordan.

Photograph: Vedia PhotoStream

The 1982 championship game against the Georgetown Hoyas is notable for the shot that Michael Jordan hit in the final seconds to give North Carolina the lead. On Georgetown's subsequent possession, Worthy intercepted a pass from the Hoya's point guard Fred Brown to seal the Tar Heels' 63-62 victory. Worthy scored 28 points in the game, on 13-18 shooting from the field, to earn Most Outstanding Player honors.

As of 2008, Worthy works as an in-studio analyst for Laker game telecasts on KCAL television in Los Angeles, and for NBA and college basketball highlights on KCBS television, also in Los Angeles. He also has been senior vice president of RP & Associates, a marketing company in Hermosa Beach, California, since February of 2005. Worthy was married to Angela Wilder from 1984-1996 and they have two daughters, Sable and Sierra Worthy

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