AAU Men's Basketball All-Americans


The Amateur Athletic Union Men's Basketball All-Americans were players who competed in the Amateur Athletic Union between 1920–21 and 1967–68 and were chosen as the best players in the league during their respective seasons. Founded in 1888, the AAU 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 while companies began vying for players to compete on their teams. 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. 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 ; Don Barksdale, Bud Browning, Shorty Carpenter, Bob Kurland, R. C. Pitts, Cab Renick ; Ron Bontemps, Bob Kurland, Frank McCabe, Dan Pippin, Howie Williams ; Dick Boushka, Chuck Darling, Burdie Haldorson, Bob Jeangerard, K. C. Jones, Ron Tomsic, Gerry Tucker, Jim Walsh ; Bob Boozer, Burdie Haldorson, Adrian Smith ; Larry Brown, Les Lane, Jerry Shipp ; and Mike Barrett, John Clawson, Calvin Fowler, Jim King and Mike Silliman.
Eleven AAU All-Americans have also been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as players. These players include Roger Brown, Ace Gruenig, Richie Guerin, Chuck Hyatt, K. C. Jones, Bob Kurland, Hank Luisetti, Jack McCracken, Andy Phillip, Jim Pollard, and George Yardley. Two other AAU All-Americans have been enshrined in other roles: Don Barksdale as a contributor and Larry Brown as a coach.

All-Americans by season

SeasonPlayerTeam
1920–21Southwestern College (KS)
1920–21Kansas City Athletic Club
1920–21Southwestern College (KS)
1920–21Kansas City Athletic Club
1920–21Northwestern Normal (Alva, OK)
1921–22Kansas City Athletic Club
1921–22Kansas City Athletic Club
1921–22Kansas City Athletic Club
1921–22Lowe & Campbell
1921–22Lowe & Campbell
1922–23Kansas City Athletic Club
1922–23Kansas City Athletic Club
1922–23Kansas City Athletic Club
1922–23Kansas City Athletic Club
1922–23Kansas City Athletic Club
1923–24San Francisco Olympic Club
1923–24Kansas City Athletic Club
1923–24Butler University
1923–24Butler University
1923–24Kansas City Athletic Club
1923–24Kansas City Athletic Club
1924–25Kansas City Athletic Club
1924–25Washburn College
1924–25Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1924–25Kansas City Schooleys
1924–25Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1925–26Kansas City Athletic Club
1925–26Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1925–26Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1925–26Kansas City Athletic Club
1925–26Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1926–27Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1926–27Hillyard Chemical (MO)
1926–27Ke-Nash-A
1927–28Kansas City Athletic Club
1927–28Cook Paint (Kansas City)
1927–28Cook Paint (Kansas City)
1927–28Hillyard Chemical (Saint Joseph, MO)
1927–28Kansas City Athletic Club
1928–29Cook Paint (Kansas City)
1928–29Henry Clothiers (Wichita)
1928–29Cook Paint (Kansas City)
1928–29Cook Paint (Kansas City)
1928–29Henry Clothiers (Wichita)
1928–29Cook Paint (Kansas City)
1929–30Wichita Henrys
1929–30East Central Teachers (Ada, OK)
1929–30San Francisco Olympic Club
1929–30Wichita Henrys
1929–30San Francisco Olympic Club
1930–31Wichita Henrys
1930–31Kansas City Athletic Club
1930–31Wichita Henrys
1930–31Los Angeles Athletic Club
1930–31Wichita Henrys
1930–31Kansas City Athletic Club
1931–32Wichita Henrys
1931–32Maryville Teachers (MO)
1931–32Maryville Teachers (MO)
1931–32Wichita Henrys
1931–32Schussler Athletic Club
1932–33Southern Kansas City Stage Lines
1932–33Wichita Henrys
1932–33Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers
1932–33Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers
1932–33Rosenberg–Avery
1933–34Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers
1933–34University of Wyoming
1933–34Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers
1933–34Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers
1933–34Tulsa Diamond DX Oilers
1934–35Southern Kansas Stage Lines
1934–35Southern Kansas Stage Lines
1934–35McPherson Globe Refiners
1934–35Hollywood Universal Pictures
1934–35McPherson Globe Refiners
1935–36Kansas City Santa Fe Trails
1935–36McPherson Globe Refiners
1935–36Hollywood Universal Pictures
1935–36Kansas City Santa Fe Trails
1935–36McPherson Globe Refiners
1936–37Denver Safeway Stores
1936–37Denver Safeway Stores
1936–37Denver Safeway Stores
1936–37Kansas City Santa Fe Trails
1936–37Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1937–38Kansas City Healey Motors
1937–38Kansas City Healey Motors
1937–38Denver Safeway Stores
1937–38Denver Safeway Stores
1937–38Wichita Gridleys
1938–39Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1938–39Denver Nuggets
1938–39Hollywood Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1938–39Denver Nuggets
1938–39Denver Nuggets
1939–40Denver Nuggets
1939–40Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1939–40Denver Nuggets
1939–40Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1939–40Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1940–41Oakland Athens Athletic Club
1940–41San Francisco Olympic Club
1940–41Hollywood 20th Century Fox
1940–41Hollywood 20th Century Fox
1940–41San Francisco Olympic Club
1941–42Denver American Legion
1941–42Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1941–42Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1941–42Denver American Legion
1941–42Denver American Legion
1942–43Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1942–43Denver American Legion
1942–43Denver American Legion
1942–43Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1942–43University of Wyoming

SeasonPlayerTeam
1943–44Colorado Springs Army
1943–44Fircrest Dairy
1943–44Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1943–44Denver Ambrose-Legion
1943–44Denver Ambrose-Legion
1943–44Denver Ambrose-Legion
1943–44Denver Ambrose-Legion
1943–44Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1943–44Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1943–44Wyoming Ft. Warren
1944–45Washington Ft. Lewis Warriors
1944–45Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1944–45Idaho Simplots
1944–45Denver Ambrose Jellymakers
1944–45Denver Ambrose Jellymakers
1944–45Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1944–45Hollywood 20th Century Fox
1944–45Denver Ambrose Jellymakers
1944–45Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1944–45Wichita Cessna Aircraft
1945–46Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1945–46San Diego Dons
1945–46Denver Ambrose Jellymakers
1945–46Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1945–46Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1945–46Hollywood 20th Century Fox
1945–46Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1945–46Fleet Marine Force
1945–46San Diego Dons
1945–46San Diego Dons
1946–47Denver Nuggets
1946–47Oakland Bittners
1946–47Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1946–47Denver Nuggets
1946–47Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1946–47Oakland Bittners
1946–47Oakland Bittners
1946–47Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1946–47Oakland Bittners
1946–47Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1947–48Oakland Bittners
1947–48Denver Nuggets
1947–48Denver Nuggets
1947–48Denver Murphy Mahoney
1947–48Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1947–48Denver Nuggets
1947–48Oakland Bittners
1947–48Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1947–48Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1947–48Oakland Bittners
1948–49Oakland Bittners
1948–49Oakland Bittners
1948–49Denver Chevrolets
1948–49Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1948–49Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1948–49Oakland Bittners
1948–49Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1948–49Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1948–49Seattle Alpine Dairy
1948–49Peoria Cats
1949–50Oakland Bittners
1949–50Denver Chevrolets
1949–50Denver Blue 'n Gold Atlas
1949–50Denver Chevrolets
1949–50Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1949–50Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1949–50Denver Blue 'n Gold Atlas
1949–50Los Angeles Police
1949–50Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1949–50San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets
1950–51Ft. Collins Poudre Valley Creamery
1950–51Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas
1950–51San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets
1950–51Ft. Collins Poudre Valley Creamery
1950–51Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1950–51San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets
1950–51Peoria Cats
1950–51Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1950–51Peoria Cats
1950–51San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets
1951–52Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys
1951–52Air Force All-Stars
1951–52Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1951–52Peoria Cats
1951–52Peoria Cats
1951–52Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1951–52Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys
1951–52Air Force All-Stars
1951–52Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1951–52Peoria Cats
1952–53San Diego Grihalva Motors
1952–53Los Alamitos Naval Air Station
1952–53Peoria Cats
1952–53San Diego Grihalva Motors
1952–53San Diego Grihalva Motors
1952–53Peoria Cats
1952–53Eugene Everybody's Drug
1952–53Peoria Cats
1952–53Peoria Cats
1952–53Los Alamitos Naval Air Station
1953–54San Diego Grihalva Motors
1953–54Peoria Cats
1953–54Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1953–54San Diego Grihalva Motors
1953–54Denver Central Bankers
1953–54San Diego Grihalva Motors
1953–54Peoria Cats
1953–54Peoria Cats
1953–54Denver Central Bankers
1953–54San Diego Grihalva Motors
1954–55Quantico Marines
1954–55Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1954–55Quantico Marines
1954–55Boulder Luckett-Nix Clippers
1954–55Boulder Luckett-Nix Clippers
1954–55Boulder Luckett-Nix Clippers
1954–55San Francisco Olympic Club
1954–55Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1954–55San Francisco Olympic Club
1954–55Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers

SeasonPlayerTeam
1955–56Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1955–56Denver Central Bankers
1955–56Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1955–56Houston Ada Oilers
1955–56Seattle Buchan Bakers
1955–56Houston Ada Oilers
1955–56Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys
1955–56Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys
1955–56Seattle Buchan Bakers
1955–56Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1956–57Peoria Cats
1956–57San Francisco Olympic Club
1956–57U.S. Air Force All-Stars
1956–57Peoria Cats
1956–57San Francisco Olympic Club
1956–57Seattle Buchan Bakers
1956–57Lake Charles McDonald Scotts
1956–57U.S. Air Force All-Stars
1956–57U.S. Air Force All-Stars
1956–57U.S. Army All-Stars
1957–58Denver-Chicago Truckers
1957–58Peoria Cats
1957–58Denver-Chicago Truckers
1957–58Peoria Cats
1957–58Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1957–58Ft. Leonard Wood
1957–58Peoria Cats
1957–58Lake Charles McDonald Scotts
1957–58Denver-Chicago Truckers
1957–58Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1958–59U.S. Army All-Stars
1958–59Wichita Vickers
1958–59Wichita Vickers
1958–59Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1958–59Wichita Vickers
1958–59U.S. Army All-Stars
1958–59U.S. Marine All-Stars
1958–59Wichita Vickers
1958–59Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1958–59San Francisco Olympic Club
1959–60Peoria Cats
1959–60Peoria Cats
1959–60Akron Goodyears
1959–60Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1959–60Peoria Cats
1959–60Akron Goodyears
1959–60Akron Goodyears
1959–60Seattle Buchan Bakers
1959–60Cleveland Pipers
1959–60Seattle Buchan Bakers
1960–61Cleveland Pipers
1960–61New York Tapers
1960–61Denver-Chicago Truckers
1960–61San Francisco Olympic Club
1960–61Denver-Chicago Truckers
1960–61New York Tapers
1960–61Cleveland Pipers
1960–61Cleveland Pipers
1960–61Denver-Chicago Truckers
1960–61Cleveland Pipers
1961–62Denver-Chicago Truckers
1961–62Denver-Chicago Tuckers
1961–62Inland Manufacturing
1961–62Akron Goodyears
1961–62Sanders State Line
1961–62Denver-Chicago Truckers
1961–62Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1961–62Akron Goodyears
1961–62Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1961–62Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1962–63Denver-Chicago Tuckers
1962–63Akron Goodyears
1962–63Denver-Chicago Truckers
1962–63Denver-Chicago Truckers
1962–63Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1962–63Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1962–63Akron Goodyears
1962–63U.S. Army All-Stars
1962–63Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1962–63Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1963–64Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1963–64Tennessee State University
1963–64Akron Goodyears
1963–64Federal Old Line
1963–64Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1963–64Sav-On Stores
1963–64Akron Goodyears
1963–64Tennessee State University
1963–64Akron Goodyears
1963–64Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1964–65U.S. Armed Forces All-stars
1964–65Akron Goodyears
1964–65Denver Capitol Federal
1964–65Denver Capitol Federal
1964–65San Francisco Athletic Club
1964–65U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars
1964–65Denver Capitol Federal
1964–65Denver Capitol Federal
1964–65Arkansas City May Builders
1964–65Akron Goodyears
1965–66Akron Goodyears
1965–66Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1965–66Denver Capitol Federal
1965–66Detroit Ford Mustangs
1965–66Knoxville Contac Caps
1965–66Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1965–66Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1965–66Detroit Ford Mustangs
1965–66Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1965–66Denver Capitol Federal
1966–67Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1966–67Akron Goodyears
1966–67Denver Capitol Federal
1966–67Akron Goodyears
1966–67Akron Goodyears
1966–67Chicago Jamaco Saints
1966–67Chicago Jamaco Saints
1966–67Akron Goodyears
1966–67Denver Capitol Federal
1966–67Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers
1967–68Denver Capitol Federal
1967–68U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars
1967–68Akron Goodyears
1967–68U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars
1967–68U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars
1967–68Akron Goodyears
1967–68Spokane Vaughn Realty
1967–68Spokane Vaughn Realty
1967–68U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars
1967–68Spokane Vaughn Realty

Most selections

This is a list for all of the All-Americans who received the honor at least three times.
;10 selections
;7–9 selections
  • None
;6 selections
;5 selections
;4 selections
;3 selections