Forrest DeBernardi

Forrest DeBernardi ( born February 3, 1899 in Nevada, Missouri, † April 29, 1970 Dallas, Texas ) was an American professional basketball player who is considered among the best players of the 1920s on the position of the center. In recognition of his athletic achievements DeBernardi was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.

Career

DeBernardi played formally on the position of the Center, met on the field but also tasks to other positions. He began his collegiate career in 1920 at Westminster College, where he also tennis, track and baseball in addition to basketball as ranked courses. The most successful, however DeBernardi was in basketball. He was awarded by the university management 's permission to compete for the Kansas City Athletic Club as a player, took part in the amateur team in the championship round of the Amateur Athletic Union ( AAU). The third place in the National Championships in Debernardis first year as a player the club has been reached, DeBernardi was appointed as a personal tribute to the All- American at the center position. In the following year, 1921, he won the Kansas City Athletic Club AAU Championship.

DeBernardi also played the last collegiate season continues for the Kansas City Athletic Club, but moved from Westminster to the University of Kansas. After graduating, he was hired and tasked to form a company team for the operation of gambling in the AAU by a company for detergents. From 1923 to 1927 DeBernardi led the team and won the championship in 1926 and 1927. Subsequently, he joined the employer. For a varnish and paint companies put DeBernardi one more time a company team. With the new team he won in 1928 and 1929 more titles. The performance of four titles in a row here with different teams, DeBernardi brought widespread recognition.

Overall DeBernardi took ten times at the AAU championship round part, was seven times honored as All-American and won five times the title. The Associated Press news agency chose DeBernardi 1938 as a center in their selection of the best team until then active player. In addition to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame DeBernardi was also included in the athletic hall of fame of its region of origin Missouri.