| AAU Men's Basketball All-Americans | |
| Description: | the best players of each original Amateur Athletic Union's men's basketball seasons |
| Country: | United States |
| Year: | 1921 |
| Year2: | 1968 |
The Amateur Athletic Union Men's Basketball All-Americans were players who competed in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) between 1920–21 and 1967–68 and were chosen as the best players in the league during their respective seasons.[1] Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. It is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.
The era between 1921 and 1968 is referred to as the "Golden Era" of AAU basketball[2] while companies began vying for players to compete on their teams.[2] There was a great allure to playing AAU basketball besides job security; by remaining in the AAU as opposed to the National Basketball League or American Basketball Association, players were able to retain their "amateur" status.[1] Only amateurs were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games, and many AAU basketball alumni went on to compete for the United States during their careers.
During this time period, thirty-three AAU All-Americans played on the United States men's national basketball team in seven different Olympic Games: Joe Fortenberry, Carl Knowles, Frank Lubin, Art Mollner, Bill Wheatley (1936);[3] Don Barksdale, Bud Browning, Shorty Carpenter, Bob Kurland, R. C. Pitts, Cab Renick (1948);[4] Ron Bontemps, Bob Kurland, Frank McCabe, Dan Pippin, Howie Williams (1952);[5] Dick Boushka, Chuck Darling, Burdie Haldorson, Bob Jeangerard, K. C. Jones, Ron Tomsic, Gerry Tucker, Jim Walsh (1956);[6] Bob Boozer, Burdie Haldorson, Adrian Smith (1960);[7] Larry Brown, Les Lane, Jerry Shipp (1964);[8] and Mike Barrett, John Clawson, Calvin Fowler, Jim King and Mike Silliman (1968).[9]
Eleven AAU All-Americans have also been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as players. These players include Roger Brown,[10] Ace Gruenig,[11] Richie Guerin,[12] Chuck Hyatt,[13] K. C. Jones,[14] Bob Kurland,[15] Hank Luisetti,[16] Jack McCracken,[17] Andy Phillip,[18] Jim Pollard,[19] and George Yardley.[20] Two other AAU All-Americans have been enshrined in other roles: Don Barksdale as a contributor[21] and Larry Brown as a coach.[22]
| Season | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–21 | Southwestern College (KS) | |
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Southwestern College (KS) | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Northwestern Normal (Alva, OK) | ||
| 1921–22 | Kansas City Athletic Club | |
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Lowe & Campbell (Kansas City) | ||
| Lowe & Campbell (Kansas City) | ||
| 1922–23 | Kansas City Athletic Club | |
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| 1923–24 | San Francisco Olympic Club | |
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Butler University | ||
| Butler University | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| 1924–25 | Kansas City Athletic Club | |
| Washburn College | ||
| Hillyard Chemical (MO) | ||
| Kansas City Schooleys | ||
| Hillyard Chemical (MO) | ||
| 1925–26 | Kansas City Athletic Club | |
| Hillyard Chemical (MO) | ||
| Hillyard Chemical (MO) | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Hillyard Chemical (MO) | ||
| 1926–27 | Hillyard Chemical (MO) | |
| Hillyard Chemical (MO) | ||
| Ke-Nash-A (Kenosha, WI) | ||
| University of Wichita< | --The 1926-27 school year was the first for the school as the "Municipal University of Wichita". It didn't become "Wichita State" until 1964.--> | |
| Hillyard Chemical (MO)) | ||
| 1927–28 | Kansas City Athletic Club | |
| Cook Paint (Kansas City) | ||
| Cook Paint (Kansas City) | ||
| Hillyard Chemical (Saint Joseph, MO) | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| 1928–29 | Cook Paint (Kansas City) | |
| Henry Clothiers (Wichita) | ||
| Cook Paint (Kansas City) | ||
| Cook Paint (Kansas City) | ||
| Henry Clothiers (Wichita) | ||
| Cook Paint (Kansas City) | ||
| 1929–30 | Wichita Henrys | |
| East Central Teachers (Ada, OK) | ||
| San Francisco Olympic Club | ||
| Wichita Henrys | ||
| San Francisco Olympic Club | ||
| 1930–31 | Wichita Henrys | |
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| Wichita Henrys | ||
| Los Angeles Athletic Club | ||
| Wichita Henrys | ||
| Kansas City Athletic Club | ||
| 1931–32 | Wichita Henrys | |
| Maryville Teachers (MO) | ||
| Maryville Teachers (MO) | ||
| Wichita Henrys | ||
| Schussler Athletic Club (Chicago) | ||
| 1932–33 | Southern Kansas City Stage Lines | |
| Wichita Henrys | ||
| Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers | ||
| Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers | ||
| Rosenberg–Avery (Chicago) | ||
| 1933–34 | Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers | |
| University of Wyoming | ||
| Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers | ||
| Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers | ||
| Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers | ||
| 1934–35 | Southern Kansas Stage Lines | |
| Southern Kansas Stage Lines | ||
| McPherson Globe Refiners | ||
| Hollywood Universal Pictures | ||
| McPherson Globe Refiners | ||
| 1935–36 | Kansas City Santa Fe Trails | |
| McPherson Globe Refiners | ||
| Hollywood Universal Pictures | ||
| Kansas City Santa Fe Trails | ||
| McPherson Globe Refiners | ||
| 1936–37 | Denver Safeway Stores | |
| Denver Safeway Stores | ||
| Denver Safeway Stores | ||
| Kansas City Santa Fe Trails | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| 1937–38 | Kansas City Healey Motors | |
| Kansas City Healey Motors | ||
| Denver Safeway Stores | ||
| Denver Safeway Stores | ||
| Wichita Gridleys | ||
| 1938–39 | Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | |
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Hollywood Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | ||
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| 1939–40 | Denver Nuggets | |
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| 1940–41 | Oakland Athens Athletic Club | |
| San Francisco Olympic Club | ||
| Hollywood 20th Century Fox | ||
| Hollywood 20th Century Fox | ||
| San Francisco Olympic Club | ||
| 1941–42 | Denver American Legion | |
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Denver American Legion | ||
| Denver American Legion | ||
| 1942–43 | Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | |
| Denver American Legion | ||
| Denver American Legion | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| University of Wyoming |
| Season | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1943–44 | Colorado Springs Army | |
| Fircrest Dairy | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Denver Ambrose-Legion | ||
| Denver Ambrose-Legion | ||
| Denver Ambrose-Legion | ||
| Denver Ambrose-Legion | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Wyoming Ft. Warren | ||
| 1944–45 | Washington Ft. Lewis Warriors | |
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Idaho Simplots | ||
| Denver Ambrose Jellymakers | ||
| Denver Ambrose Jellymakers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Hollywood 20th Century Fox | ||
| Denver Ambrose Jellymakers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Wichita Cessna Aircraft | ||
| 1945–46 | Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | |
| San Diego Dons | ||
| Denver Ambrose Jellymakers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Hollywood 20th Century Fox | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Fleet Marine Force | ||
| San Diego Dons | ||
| San Diego Dons | ||
| 1946–47 | Denver Nuggets | |
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| 1947–48 | Oakland Bittners | |
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Denver Murphy Mahoney | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Denver Nuggets | ||
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| 1948–49 | Oakland Bittners | |
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Denver Chevrolets | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Oakland Bittners | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Seattle Alpine Dairy | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| 1949–50 | Oakland Bittners | |
| Denver Chevrolets | ||
| Denver Blue 'n Gold Atlas | ||
| Denver Chevrolets | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Denver Blue 'n Gold Atlas | ||
| Los Angeles Police | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets | ||
| 1950–51 | Ft. Collins (CO) Poudre Valley Creamery | |
| Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas | ||
| San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets | ||
| Ft. Collins (CO) Poudre Valley Creamery | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets | ||
| 1951–52 | Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys | |
| Air Force All-Stars | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys | ||
| Air Force All-Stars | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| 1952–53 | San Diego Grihalva Motors | |
| Los Alamitos Naval Air Station | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| San Diego Grihalva Motors | ||
| San Diego Grihalva Motors | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Eugene (OR) Everybody's Drug | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Los Alamitos Naval Air Station | ||
| 1953–54 | San Diego Grihalva Motors | |
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| San Diego Grihalva Motors | ||
| Denver Central Bankers | ||
| San Diego Grihalva Motors | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Peoria Cats | ||
| Denver Central Bankers | ||
| San Diego Grihalva Motors | ||
| 1954–55 | Quantico Marines | |
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| Quantico Marines | ||
| Boulder (CO) Luckett-Nix Clippers | ||
| Boulder (CO) Luckett-Nix Clippers | ||
| Boulder (CO) Luckett-Nix Clippers | ||
| San Francisco Olympic Club | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers | ||
| San Francisco Olympic Club | ||
| Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers |
This is a list for all of the All-Americans who received the honor at least three times.