__NOTOC__ 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. 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 (1936); Don Barksdale, Bud Browning, Shorty Carpenter, Bob Kurland, R. C. Pitts, Cab Renick (1948); Ron Bontemps, Bob Kurland, Frank McCabe, Dan Pippin, Howie Williams (1952); Dick Boushka, Chuck Darling, Burdie Haldorson, Bob Jeangerard, K. C. Jones, Ron Tomsic, Gerry Tucker, Jim Walsh (1956); Bob Boozer, Burdie Haldorson, Adrian Smith (1960); Larry Brown, Les Lane, Jerry Shipp (1964); and Mike Barrett, John Clawson, Calvin Fowler, Jim King and Mike Silliman (1968).
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 1920–21 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 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
SeasonPlayerTeam 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
SeasonPlayerTeam 1955–56 Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Denver Central Bankers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Houston Ada Oilers Seattle Buchan Bakers Houston Ada Oilers Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys Seattle Buchan Bakers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers 1956–57 Peoria Cats San Francisco Olympic Club U.S. Air Force All-Stars Peoria Cats San Francisco Olympic Club Seattle Buchan Bakers Lake Charles (LA) McDonald Scotts U.S. Air Force All-Stars U.S. Air Force All-Stars U.S. Army All-Stars 1957–58 Denver-Chicago Truckers Peoria Cats Denver-Chicago Truckers Peoria Cats Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Ft. Leonard (MO) Wood Peoria Cats Lake Charles (LA) McDonald Scotts Denver-Chicago Truckers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers 1958–59 U.S. Army All-Stars Wichita Vickers Wichita Vickers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Wichita Vickers U.S. Army All-Stars U.S. Marine All-Stars Wichita Vickers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers San Francisco Olympic Club 1959–60 Peoria Cats Peoria Cats Akron Goodyears Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Peoria Cats Akron Goodyears Akron Goodyears Seattle Buchan Bakers Cleveland Pipers Seattle Buchan Bakers 1960–61 Cleveland Pipers New York Tapers Denver-Chicago Truckers San Francisco Olympic Club Denver-Chicago Truckers New York Tapers Cleveland Pipers Cleveland Pipers Denver-Chicago Truckers Cleveland Pipers 1961–62 Denver-Chicago Truckers Denver-Chicago Tuckers Inland Manufacturing Akron Goodyears Sanders State Line Denver-Chicago Truckers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Akron Goodyears Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers 1962–63 Denver-Chicago Tuckers Akron Goodyears Denver-Chicago Truckers Denver-Chicago Truckers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Akron Goodyears U.S. Army All-Stars Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers 1963–64 Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Tennessee State University Akron Goodyears Federal Old Line Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Sav-On Stores Akron Goodyears Tennessee State University Akron Goodyears Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers 1964–65 U.S. Armed Forces All-stars Akron Goodyears Denver Capitol Federal Denver Capitol Federal San Francisco Athletic Club U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars Denver Capitol Federal Denver Capitol Federal Arkansas City May Builders Akron Goodyears 1965–66 Akron Goodyears Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Denver Capitol Federal Detroit Ford Mustangs Knoxville (TN) Contac Caps Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Detroit Ford Mustangs Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Denver Capitol Federal 1966–67 Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers Akron Goodyears Denver Capitol Federal Akron Goodyears Akron Goodyears Chicago Jamaco Saints Chicago Jamaco Saints Akron Goodyears Denver Capitol Federal Bartlesville (OK) Phillips 66ers 1967–68 Denver Capitol Federal U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars Akron Goodyears U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars Akron Goodyears Spokane (WA) Vaughn Realty Spokane (WA) Vaughn Realty U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars Spokane (WA) Vaughn Realty
Most selections
This is a list for all of the All-Americans who received the honor at least three times.
10 selections Ace Gruenig
7–9 selections None
6 selections Shorty Carpenter, Bob Kurland, Jack McCracken
5 selections Forrest DeBernardi, Chuck Hyatt
4 selections Don Barksdale, Berry Dunham, Burdie Haldorson, Frank McCabe, Jimmy McNatt, Bill Reigel, George Starbuck
3 selections