Dell Curry drove his dark blue Choo Choo Customs Chevy Blazer down from Virginia in 1988 to join the Carolinas' first major league team — the Charlotte Hornets.

Why it matters: Curry — the expansion franchise's first player — became a defining figure in Charlotte sports and will soon become just the second Hornets player with his jersey retired at Spectrum Center.

Driving the news: The Hornets will retire Curry's jersey Thursday, March 19, during halftime of their game against the Orlando Magic.

• Curry's No. 30 joins his former teammate Bobby Phills' (No. 13), who died in a car accident in 2000.

By the numbers: For Curry, the honor is the "cherry on top" of his Charlotte legacy, he tells Axios. His 10 seasons playing for the Hornets are the most in franchise history.

Between the lines: Curry wasn't a starter like his superstar son, Stephen Curry. Of his 701 games in Charlotte, he only started 77. Instead, he made his impact coming off the bench. Curry won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1994.

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. 5th/6th Grade Teacher - Middle School at Charlotte Preparatory School.
2. Executive Assistant & Hospitality Coordinator at Donald Haack Diamonds.
3. Weekday School Director at St. John's Baptist Church.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

The Queens Royals are heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history as a Division I school.

Why it matters: The small school based in Myers Park hopes to become the Cinderella team of this year's tournament.

Catch up quick: The No. 3-seeded Royals won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament by taking down the tourney's No. 1 seed Central Arkansas 98-93.

What's next: The Royals, No. 15 in the West Region, will face No. 2 Purdue on Friday, March 20, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Here are five things to know about the Royals.

• This is the first year they're eligible for the Big Dance.
• Keep an eye on guards Chris Ashby, who hit 10 three-pointers during the ASUN tournament final, and Nasir Mann, who leads the Royals in scoring.
• Look for head coach Grant Leonard's signature sweater.
• Buddy, the street dog, represents the fight in the team.
• In 1989-1990, the Royals played their first season. Nearly 40 years later, they have a chance to make a splash on college basketball's biggest stage.

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Among the other North Carolina schools headed to the big dance, on the men's side:

• 🐺 N.C. State takes on Texas in the First Four Tuesday at 9:15pm in Dayton, Ohio.
• 😈 Duke, No. 1 in the East Region, vs. No. 16 Siena Thursday at 2:50pm in Greenville, South Carolina.
• 🐏 North Carolina, No. 6 in the South, vs. No. 11 VCU Thursday, also in Greenville, at 6:50pm.

Several local women's teams will play at home, bringing March Madness to the Triangle. Game times are TBA.

• 😈 No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston on Friday in Durham. The Blue Devils are ACC champions.
• 🐏 No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Western Illinois on Friday in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels are on a hot streak.
• 🐺 No. 7 N.C. State vs. No. 10 Tennessee on Friday in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The teams played at the start of the season and the Wolfpack won 80-77.

The intrigue: High Point University secured spots in both the men's and women's tournaments. The men's team is ranked No. 12, and the women's team is No. 15.

Explore the full men's and women's brackets

News you can use from our partners.

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☀️ Camden Commons returns March 22, April 19 and May 17 from 11am-5pm in South End, turning Camden Road in South End into a massive block party.

🎟️ Carolina Ascent has adjusted ticket prices to address a drop in attendance. (🔒 CBJ)

• The Ascent beat Tampa Bay Sun FC 1-0 Friday at home.

🧒 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will reassign 23 pre-K facilitators to classroom roles due to declining enrollment. (WSOC)

Here are five fun things to do in Charlotte this week.

🎬 Monday: Watch a screening of "Shattered Ice," a film that explores mental health, at Queens University of Charlotte. | $15.80 | 6pm | Details

🍀 Tuesday: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Hornets vs. the Heat at Spectrum Center. | $25+ | 7pm | Details

🍽️ Wednesday: Dig in during Savor Charlotte with a five-course meal at Artisan's Palate featuring Resident Culture and Pilot Brewing. | $95+ | 6:30pm | Details

🌃 Thursday: Weigh in on the Levine Museum of the New South's future South End campus. The event will be at VAPA in Uptown. RSVP required. | Free | 6:30pm | Details

🎭 Friday: See opening night of Theatre Charlotte's production of "God of Carnage," Yasmina Reza's Tony Award–winning dark comedy. | $34+| 8pm | Details

Every year, Mecklenburg County residents volunteer during Creek Week to help pick up trash to help keep local creeks and greenways clean.

How it works: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services' Creek Week runs March 21-28, culminating in a Big Spring Clean on March 28 from 9 a.m. to noon at various locations around the county. The Big Spring Clean is a massive single-day effort to remove thousands of pounds of litter from streams and greenways.

• You can sign up here and see the full week's list of volunteer and educational opportunities here.
• This year will include the inaugural Creek Week Stormwater Run-off 5k on March 21.

By the numbers: Last year, 18,604 lbs of trash were collected, including 732 bags of trash, 35 tires and other bulky items.