# List of AAU men's basketball champions

The Amateur Athletic Union Tournament is the annual American amateur basketball championship series for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams. It started in 1897 and has continued until present. Most finals have been played in a single final format, apart from some occasions that the winner's tournament had been decided by a round robin format.
Later, professional players like David Robinson, Larry Brown, and Gregg Popovich were crowned champions of the AAU. Popovich and Robinson represented the U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars. Between 1920 and 1950, some of the strongest basketball teams in the United States were sponsored by corporations, including Phillips 66, 20th Century Fox, Safeway Inc., Caterpillar Inc., and others.

## History

By the early 1930s, a few teams had earned reputations for basketball excellence and produced AAU All-Americans such as Forrest DeBernardi, Melvin Miller and Chuck Hyatt. In 1936 the significance of the tournament soared as it became integral part of the process to select US first Olympic team. When the stakes became higher, the competition between AAU and NCAA grew more intense as each organization asserted its claim to represent the US in international competition But the AAU tournaments came to rise during the 1950s and 1960s with teams like the Phillips 66ers, the Peoria Caterpillars, the Akron Goodyears, the Denver D-C Truckers and the Wichita Vickers. These teams played a full schedule each season, topping 30 games a year and traveling throughout the country. Some of them also helped introduce the American style of basketball to foreign players. In 1956, the Buchan Bakers played games in Japan, the Philippines, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Spain. During the 1950s, the rosters of the top amateur teams were filled with former college stars, many of whom had been drafted by the NBA, which was still in its formative years. The amateur teams sometimes offered more money than the pro teams as well as the security of full-time employment. AAU basketball was particularly strong in the Midwest, Southwest and West Coast, where the NBA had not yet established a presence.
The top teams also played in the National Industrial Basketball League, which began play in the 1947–48 season, two years before the establishment of the NBA. The NIBL had as many as eleven teams for the 1951–52 season and had nine teams during its next to last season in 1959–60. The Phillips 66ers won the NIBL title 11 of the leagues 14 years of existence. But the goal for all these teams was winning the National AAU Tournament, held each year in Denver. The tournament field was determined by play in regional AAU tournaments, and included the top industrial teams, armed services teams, and often teams just put together for the tournament. Between 1943 and 1963, the Phillips 66ers won the tournament 10 times and the Peoria Caterpillars won five times. But there was always a chance for a surprise team to slip past the favorites. The Buchan Bakers, long shots at the outset of the tournament, won the national championship in 1956. Other one-time winners included the Oakland Bittners, led by Don Barksdale, in 1949 and Stewart Chevrolet, led by George Yardley, in 1951. The appeal of AAU basketball began to decline in the early 1960s as the NBA gained prominence with such players as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. The NIBL folded in 1961, and with expansion of the NBA and the formation of the American Basketball Association in the late 1960s, the annual National AAU Tournament faded from prominence.

## AAU Champions

1897 New York 23 Street YMCA (1) (Round Robin)
1898 not held 1899 New York Knickerbocker Athletic Club (1) (Round Robin) 1900 New York Knickerbocker Athletic Club (2) (Round Robin) 1901 Ravenwood YMCA (1)
1902 not held 1903 not held 1904 Buffalo Germans (1) (Round Robin) 1905 Kansas City Athletic Club (1) 1910 National Guard Co. F 1911 not held 1912 not held 1913 Armour Square Cornells (1) (Round Robin) 1914 Armour Square Cornells (2) 1915 San Francisco Olympic Club (1) 1916 University of Utah Utes (1) 1917 Illinois Athletic Club (1)
1918 not held due to World War I 1919 Los Angeles Athletic Club (1) 1920 New York University Violets (1) 1921 Kansas City Athletic Club (2) 1922 Lowe and Campbell (1) 1923 Kansas City Athletic Club (3) 1924 Butler University Bulldogs (1) 1925 Washburn College Ichabods (1) 1926 Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls (1) 1927 Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls (2) 1928 Cook's Paint Boys (1) 1929 Cook's Paint Boys (2) 1930 Wichita Clothiers(1) 1931 Wichita Clothiers (2) 1932 Wichita Clothiers (3) 1933 Diamond DX Oilers (1) 1934 Diamond DX Oilers (2) 1935 South Kansas Stage Lines (1)
1936 Globe Refiners (1)
1937 Denver Safeway Stores (1)
1938 Healey Motors (1)
1939 Denver Nuggets (2)
1940 Phillips 66ers (1)
1941 20th Century Fox (1)
1942 Denver American Legion (3)
1943 Phillips 66ers (2) 1944 Phillips 66ers (3) 1945 Phillips 66ers (4) 1946 Phillips 66ers (5) 1947 Phillips 66ers (6) 1948 Phillips 66ers (7) 1949 Oakland Bittners (1) 1950 Phillips 66ers (8) 1951 Stewart Chevrolet (1) 1952 Peoria Caterpillars (1) 1953 Peoria Caterpillars (2) 1954 Peoria Caterpillars (3) 1955 Phillips 66ers (9) 1956 Buchan Bakers (1) 1957 U.S. Air Force All-Stars (1) 1958 Peoria Caterpillars (4)
1959 Wichita Vickers (1) 1960 Peoria Caterpillars (5) 1961 Cleveland Pipers (1) 1962 Phillips 66ers (10) 1963 Phillips 66ers (11)
1964 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (1) 1965 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (1) 1966 Ford Mustangs (1) 1967 Goodyear Wingfoots (2)
1968 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (2) 1969 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (3) 1970 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (4) 1971 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (5) 1972 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (6) 1973 Marathon Oil (1) 1974 Jacksonville All-Stars (1) 1975 Capital Insulation (1) 1976 Athletes in Action (1)
1977 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (7) 1978 Joliet Christian Youth Center (1) 1979 Joliet Christian Youth Center (2) 1980 Airliner Basketball Club (1) 1981 Brewster-Heights Packing (1) 1982 Brewster-Heights Packing (2)
1983 Houston Flyers (1) 1984 Paul-Son Dice (1) 1985 Brewster-Heights Packing (3) 1986 Continental/Coors (1) 1987 Brewster-Heights Packing (4) 1988 Brewster-Heights Packing (5) 1989 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (8)
1990 Sam Ragnone Attorney (1)
1991 Lafayette Hustlers (1)
1992 Sam Ragnone Attorney (2) 1993 USA Verich Reps (1) 1994 MNS Stars (1) 1999 Palmer's Tornadoes (1)
2000 Palmer's Tornadoes (2) 2005 The New Beginnings B.C. (1)

## Finals

| Year | Venue | Champion | Score | Runner-Up |
| 1905 | Francis Field | Kansas City Athletic Club | | Buffalo Germans |
| 1915 | Chicago | San Francisco Olympic Club | 26–16 | Whittier College (CA) |
| 1916 | Convention Hall | University of Utah Utes | 28–17 | Illinois Athletic Club |
| 1917 | Convention Hall | Illinois Athletic Club | 17–14 | Brigham Young University Cougars |
| 1920 | Convention Hall | New York University Violets | 47–24 | Rutgers University Scarlet Knights |
| 1921 | Convention Hall | Kansas City Athletic Club | | Southwestern College of Winfield Moundbuilders |
| 1922 | Convention Hall | Lowe and Campbell | 42–28 | Kansas City Athletic Club |
| 1923 | Convention Hall | Kansas City Athletic Club | 31–18 | Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls |
| 1924 | Convention Hall | Butler University Bulldogs | 30–26 | Kansas City Athletic Club |
| 1925 | Convention Hall | Washburn College Ichabods | 42–30 | Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls |
| 1926 | Convention Hall | Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls | 25–20 | Kansas City Athletic Club |
| 1928 | Convention Hall | Cook's Paint Boys | 25–23 | Kansas City Athletic Club |
| 1929 | Convention Hall | Cook's Paint Boys | 51–35 | Wichita Clothiers |
| 1930 | Convention Hall | Wichita Clothiers | 29–16 | San Francisco Olympic Club |
| 1931 | Convention Hall | Wichita Clothiers | 38–14 | Kansas City Athletic Club |
| 1932 | Convention Hall | Wichita Clothiers | 15–14 | Northwest Missouri State Bearcats |
| 1934 | Convention Hall | Diamond DX Oilers | | Wyoming University Cowboys |
| 1935 | Convention Hall | South Kansas Stage Lines | 45–26 | Globe Refiners |
| 1936 | Convention Hall | McPherson Globe Refiners | 47–35 | Universal Pictures |
| 1937 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Denver Safeway Stores | 43–38 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1938 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Healy Motors | 40–38 | Denver Safeway Stores |
| 1939 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Denver Nuggets | 25–22 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1940 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 39–36 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1941 | Denver Auditorium Arena | 20th Century Fox | 47–34 | San Francisco Olympic Club |
| 1942 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Denver American Legion | 45–32 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1943 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 39–36 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1944 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 50–43 | Denver Ambrose-Legion |
| 1945 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 47–46 | Denver Ambrose Jellymakers |
| 1946 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 45–34 | San Diego Dons |
| 1947 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 62–41 | Oakland Bittners |
| 1948 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 62–48 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1949 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Oakland Bittners | 55–51 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1950 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 65–42 | Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas |
| 1951 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Stewart Chevrolet | 76–55 | Poudre Valley Creamery |
| 1952 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Peoria Cats | 66–53 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1953 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Peoria Cats | 73–62 | Los Alamitos NAS |
| 1954 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Peoria Cats | 63–55 | Grihalva Motors |
| 1955 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 66–64 | Luckett-Nix Clippers |
| 1956 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Buchan Bakers | 59–57 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1957 | Denver Auditorium Arena | US Armed Forces All-Stars | 87–74 | San Francisco Olympic Club |
| 1958 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Peoria Cats | 74–71 (3 OT) | Denver-Chicago Truckers |
| 1959 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Wichita Vickers | 105–84 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1960 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Peoria Cats | 87–73 | Akron Wingfoots |
| 1961 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Cleveland Pipers | 107–96 | Denver-Chicago Truckers |
| 1962 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 70–58 | Denver-Chicago Truckers |
| 1963 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Phillips 66ers | 100–70 | Denver-Chicago Truckers |
| 1964 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Akron Wingfoots | 86–78 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1965 | Denver Auditorium Arena | US Armed Forces All-Stars | 77–75 | Denver Capitol Federal |
| 1966 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Ford Mustangs | 71–67 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1967 | Denver Auditorium Arena | Akron Wingfoots | 77–72 | Phillips 66ers |
| 1968 | Denver Auditorium Arena | U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars | 73–69 | Vaughn Reality |
| 1970 | Columbia, South Carolina | U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars | | Columbia Sertoma |
| 1971 | London, Kentucky | U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars | 91–77 | Marathon Oil |
| 1976 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Athletes in Action | 80–79 | U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1979 | Ponca City, Oklahoma | Joliet Christian Youth Center | 110–100 | U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1982 | Portland, Oregon | Brewster-Heights Packing | 93–91 | Lexington Marathon Oil |
| 1983 | Ponca City, Oklahoma | Houston Flyers | | Brewster-Heights Packing |
| 1989 | Topeka, Kansas | U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars | | Sam Ragnone Attorney |
| 1990 | Topeka, Kansas | Sam Ragnone Attorney | 97–92 | Indiana Lafayette Hustlers |
| 1991 | Topeka, Kansas | Lafayette Hustlers | 97–92 | Sam Ragnone Attorney |
| 1993 | Topeka, Kansas | USA Verich Reps | | Shell & Widman-Elk Grove |
| 1994 | Topeka, Kansas | MNS Stars | | Shell & Widman-Elk Grove |
| 2000 | Des Moines, Iowa | Palmer's Tornadoes | | Shell & Widman-Elk Grove |
| 2005 | Des Moines, Iowa | The New Beginnings B.C. | 101–98 | San Francisco Pro Am/Gold Rush |

## Total titles by club

| Club | W | R | Winning years |
| Phillips 66ers | 11 | 10 | 1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1962, 1963 |
| U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars | 8 | 2 | 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1989 |
| Brewster-Heights Packing | 5 | 0 | 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 |
| Peoria Caterpillars | 5 | 0 | 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1960 |
| Denver Nuggets | 3 | 6 | 1937, 1939, 1942 |
| Kansas City Athletic Club | 3 | 3 | 1905, 1921, 1923 |
| Wichita Clothiers | 3 | 0 | 1930, 1931, 1932 |
| Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls | 2 | 2 | 1926, 1927 |
| Akron Goodyear Wingfoots | 2 | 1 | 1964, 1967 |
| Sam Ragnone Attorney | 2 | 0 | 1990, 1992 |
| New York Knickerbocker Athletic Club | 2 | 0 | 1898, 1899 |
| Oakland Bittners | 1 | 1 | 1949 |
| Cleveland Pipers | 1 | 0 | 1961 |
| U.S. Air Force All-Stars | 1 | 0 | 1957 |
| 20th Century Fox | 1 | 0 | 1941 |

## Venues and Winning squads
### 1897–1920: The beginnings

1898-1900 at New York 1898, Madison Square Garden, New York City: 23rd St. Y.M.C.A New York (later known as the New York Wanderers) A.J. Abadie, A.C. Abadie, A. Shields, W. Reed, J. Hamill, Deitrich, Meyerhoff, J. Wendelken, G. Greif. 1899, Brooklyn, NYC: Knickerbocker A.C. New York
Weiss, Stripple, Cornish, Keawn, Dietrich, Reuss. 1900, Madison Square Garden, New York City: Knickerbocker A.C. New York
Quigg, Stripple, Brocker, Keawn, Linder, Reuss, Grennhall, Patterson. 1901: at Chicago 1901, at Chicago, Illinois: Ravenswood Y.M.C.A. Chicago, Illinois Lorentzen, Rechard, Washburne, Albertson, Rowley, Stevens, Krafthefer.

### 1904: St. Louis Olympic Basketball Tournament

1904: Francis Field, St. Louis, Missouri: Buffalo (Germans) Y.M.C.A. Buffalo, New York – at St. Louis, Missouri Rhode, Manweiler, Monohan, Hardt, Miller, Redlein. 1910-1914: at Chicago 1910, Chicago, Illinois: Company F. Portage, Wisconsin, N.F. Sheppard, Mueller, Ebert, Janda, Hinickle, S. Ernsperger, Swenholt, Harbor, Abell, F. Ernsperger, Schneider. 1913, Chicago, Illinois: Cornell (Armour Playground), Chicago, Illinois A. Pressler, W. Pressler, Feeney, Johnson, Freeling, Kohfeldt. 1914, Chicago, Illinois: Cornell (Armour Playground), Chicago, Illinois 1915: at San Francisco 1915, San Francisco, California: Olympic Club of San Francisco, San Francisco, California Berndt, J. Gilbert, R Gilbert, Stadfeldt, Schugert, Miller, Kemp. 1916 and 1917: at Chicago 1916, Chicago, Illinois: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Dorton, Warner, Thorum, Smith, Breiben, Romney, Van Pelt, Clark, Parker, Goodrich. 1917, Chicago, Illinois: Illinois A.C. Chicago, Illinois
Kohfeldt, Elliot, D. Holland, Greisel, Cochrane, Feeney, A. Pressler (Capt), Frieling, W. Pressler, Egan. 1919: at Los Angeles 1919, Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles A.C. Los Angeles, California
Swann, Wilson, Laswell, Cooper, Slaighter (Capt.), Cate, Tate, Olney. 1920: at Atlanta 1920, Atlanta, Georgia: New York University
Holman, Goeller, Delaney, Cann, Storey (Capt.), Mooney, Baker.

### 1921–1935: Kansas City venue

1921, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Kansas City, A.C. Burrien, Saunders, Lonborg, Moberley, Singer, Davis, De Bernardi. 1922, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Lowe and Campbell, Kansas City Browning, G. Williams, F. Williams, Reeves, Scott, Keyes, Buckner, Davidson. 1923, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Kansas City, A.C. Williams, Trumbo, Harry Viner, Bobby Sanders, Francis Hess, George Reeves, George Williams, Milton Singer, George Browning. 1924, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Butler University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana Paul, Blessing, Strole, Conway, Reichel, Griggs, Keach, Jones, Middlesworth (Capt.), Hooker, Nipper, Harber. 1925, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas Brewster, Peterson, Briethaupt (Capt), Lowe, Lonborg, Poart, McLaughlin, Spohn. 1926, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Hillyard, St, Joseph, Missouri Earl Mueller, R. Hillyard D. Goodson, N Hillyard, C. Allen, George Rody, S. De Bernardi, G. Starbuck, John Wulf, R. Mosley, E. Giltner. 1927, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Hillyard, St Joseph, Missouri Starbuck, Loveless, Wulf, Allen, De Bernardi, Mitchel, Hewitt. 1928, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Cook Paint Company, Kansas City Holt, Peterson, Ekstrom, Gordon, Mosley (Capt.), Lecrone, Wingate, DeBernardi. 1929, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Cook Paint Company, Kansas City De Bernadi, Burke, Hewitt, Peterson, Holt, Harrigan, Hale, Gordon, Lamb. 1930, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Henry Clothiers, Wichita, Kansas McBurney, Starbock, Gibbons, Hewitt, Miller, Davis, Dundham, Nonken, Burke. 1931, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Henry Clothiers, Wichita, Kansas Davis, Callahan, Dunham, Scott, Miller, Iba, McBurney, Hoffman, Alexander, Gardner (Capt). 1932, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Henry Clothiers, Wichita, Kansas Miller, Gibbons, Grove, Pickell, Olmstead, Dunham, Calahan. 1933, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Diamond DX Oilers, Tulsa, Oklahoma Chuck Hyatt, Futhey, Jerome, C. Larson, Lantrop, Carlton, H. Larson, Mullins, Art Hyatt. 1934, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Diamond DX Oilers, Tulsa, Oklahoma
W. Miller, Willis, Lantrop, Carlton (Capt), Larson, Pickell, Mullins, Hyatt. 1935, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Southern Kansas Stage Lines Fischer, Browning, Piper, Quinn, Wier, Wallenstrom, Praiswater, Meyers, Light. 1936, Convention Hall, Kansas City: Globe Refiners, McPherson, Kansas
Johnson, Ragland, Frank, Gibbons, Wheatley, Vaughan, Dowd, Fortenbury, Schmidt.

### 1937–1956: Denver Rise

1937, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Denver Safeways, Denver, Colorado –
Shelton (Capt). Mansweller, Frank, Young, Gruenig, Colvin, Dowell, McCracken, Bauer, Fee. 1938, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Healey Motors, Kansas City
Herman Fischer, Francis Johnson, Bud Beiser, Roy Brown, Fred Pralle, Ray Noble, Dick Staab, Frank Groves, Bob Weir. 1939, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Denver Nuggets, Denver, Colorado Bill Ogle, Pete Lentry, Bob Gruenig, Dick Wells, Ted Connelly, Werner Frank, Ralph Bishop, Jack McCracken, Tex Colvin. 1940, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
1941, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Twentieth Century Foz, Hollywood, Carlifornia
Cloyd, Woodward, Weldie, Johnson, Harris, O'Hara, Knowels, Lubin, McGrath, Mollner, Schiefer. Tucker, Pralle, Ebling, Loackard, Martin Hyatt (Amateur Coach), Lewis, Fortenbury, Trowtwein, Grove, Shields. 1942, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: American Legion, Denver, Colorado Strannigan, Harvey, McCracken, Marsh, Marks, Gray, Unger, Lentz, Bob Gruenig. 1943, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma McNatt, Browning, Freiberger, Pralle, Carpenter, Rothman, Nash, Yates. 1944, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips, 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma McNatt, Browning, Tucker, Carpenter, Freiberger, Clar, Pralle, Rothman. 1949, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Oakland Bittners Reimke, Williams, Voss, O'Gara, Barksdale, Fisher, Hanger, Fasholz, Silver, Minor. 1948, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Beck, Nash, Reneck, Reich, Bob Kurland, Tucker, Carpenter, Beisser, Pitts, Jones. 1947, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Carpenter, Martin, Stockman, Nash, Eggleston, Perrault, Reneck, Bob Kurland. 1946', Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Mcnatt, Nash, Carpenter, Martin, Renick, Rothman, Lewis, Reisser. 1945, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Nash, Rothman, McNatt, Browning, Linderman, Halbert, Carpenter, Yates, Schwartzer. 1954, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Retherford, Minter, McCabe, Ron Bontemps, Gladson, Penwell, Sheets, Solomon. 1953, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Ron Bontemps, Freiberger, McCabe, Pippin, Williams, Retherford, Minter, Penwell, Dean, Haarlow. 1952, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Peoria Caterpillar Diesels Ron Bontemps, Freiberger, McCabe, Pippin, Williams, Lafferty, Schmidt, Dempsey. 1951, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Stewart Chevrolet, San Francisco, California Walker, Yardley, Hendricksen, Crandall, Kuzara, Payne, Greenback, Laney, Bullwinkel. 1950, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Beck, Lipscomb, Bennett, Stanich, Courtney, Bob Kurland, Williams, Tucker, Reich, Pryor.

### 1957–1968: Denver Fall

1955, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Walsh, Short, Darling, Ford, Houghland, Fuller, Mattick, Buchanan, Rivers. 1956, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Buchan Bakers, Seattle, Washington Parsons, Halberg, Jordan, Swyers, Glowaski, Guisness, B. H. Born, Cipriano, Koon. 1957, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: U.S. Air Force
Dick Boushka, Don Bragg, Shag Warren, Ron Tomsic, Dick Welsh, Jim Coshow, Max Hooper, Allen Kelley, Mac McDonald, Eddie White. 1958, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats
Bingham, Palmer, B. H. Born, Prudhoe, Plunkett, Schultz, Sullivan, Warden, Lee, Wolfe, A. Kelley, Crittenden, D. Kelley. 1959, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Wichita Vickers Boushka, Swartz, Boldebuck, Lane, Revon, Smith, King, Schramm, Mullen. 1960, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Boozer, Adams, Prudhoe, Ohi, Crittenden, Plunkett, Kelley, Hill, Woll. 1961, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Cleveland Pipers, Cleveland Adams, Swartz, Sharrar, Taylor, Barnhill, McCollom, Hamilton. 1962, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66 Hagan, Robitallie, Frank, McNeil, Kojis, Thompson, Altenberg, Cole, Bowerman, Jerry Shipp, Price. 1963, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66 Kojis, Jerry Shipp, Hagan, Price, Rascoe, Bowerman, Moran, Frank, Mounts, Pursiful. 1964, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Goodyear Wingfoots Arnold, Beckman, Larry Brown (MVP), Davies, McCaffrey, McCoy, Sharrar, Small, Whiteford, Williams. 1965, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Armed Forces All Stars Sheehan, Meyers, Birkle, Reloff, Connelly, USMC; Fowler, Mahonak, Reid, Vern Benson (MVP), USA; Stowers, USAF; Moor, USN. 1966, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Ford Mustangs Russell (MVP), Clawson, Johnson, Olson, Darden, Curtis, Murrey, Thompson, Tregoning, Washington. 1967, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Akron Goodyear Miller, Jim King, Anderson, Calvin Fowler, Vern Benson, Patterson, McCoy, Corell, Dabich, Hanson. 1968, Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher, USA; S/Sgt. Jones, Manager, USAF: Darius Cunningham, John Clawson, George Carter, Mike Silliman, USA; Mike Redd, Marvin Willet, USMC; John Snipes, James Cole, USN; Mike Barrett (MVP), USN; Ken Bradley, Harry Gilmore, Bill Blair, USAF.
1969-1970: at Macon and Columbia 1969, Macon, Georgia: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher, USA; Garfield Smith, Ken Washington, Rod McDonald, Mike Silliman, George Collier, Tal Brody, Harold Jeter, Bob Wolf, USA; Howard Hansen, USN; Mike Redd, Jim Meyers, USMC. 1970, Columbia, South Carolina: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher, USA; Mike Redd, USMC; Mike Sillman, Garfield Smith, Tal Brody, Mike Wolf, Rod MacDonald, Ken Washington, Art Wilmore, Darnell Hillman, USA; Ed Whitehead, USAF.
1971-1973: at Kentucky 1971, London Kentucky: Armed Forces All Stars Art Wilmore, Don Crenshaw, Bruce Sloan, Darnell Hillman, Jim Oxley, Fram Dumphy, Ron Krayl, Larry Bauer, USA; Chuck Kozak, USMC; Cliff Parsons, USAF; Hal Fisher, Coach, USA, Assistant Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Fox, USA. 1972, London Kentucky: Armed Forces All Stars Bernie Barnes, Howard Hughes, Cliff Parsons, Ron Richards, Marv Schmitt, Gregg Popovich, USAF; Bill Squires, USMC; Paul Andrews, Don Crenshaw, Tom Daley, USA. 1973, Ashland, Kentucky: Marathon Oil, Lexington, Kentucky
Coaches ScottBaesler, Pat Doyle; Kenny Davis, Jim Lemaster, George Bryant, John Adams, Gene Kirk, Jim Day, Dan Argabright, Ketchel Strauss, Phil Argento, Darryl Dunagan.

### 1974–1976: AAU Fall

1974-1976: at Baton Rouge 1974, F. G. Clark Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Jacksonville, Florida Coach Lowell Wood; Dan Foster, Rick Coleman, Chip Dublin, Otis Cole, Todd Lolich, Otis Johnson, Lawrence McCray, Abe Steward, Rex Morgan. 1975, F. G. Clark Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Capital Insulation, Los Angeles, California Louis Smith, Dwight Taylor, Paul Scranton, Larry Hollifield, Billy Jackson, Carl Toney, Richard Darnall, Hugh Fenderson, William Jankans, Robert Murray. 1976, F. G. Clark Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Athletes in Action, Tustin, California – at
Charles Neal, Brad Hoffman, Eldon Lawyer, Randy Allen, David Lower, Doug Oxsen, Irvin Kiffin, Tim Hall, Dan Knight, John Sears.

### 1985–1998: at Topeka, Kansas

1985, Topeka, Kansas: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington
Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Coach Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau, Managers, Mike Pariseau, Mark Pariseau; Eddie Smith, Pete Williams, Brian Kellerman, Jay Triano, John W. Pariseau, Eli Pasquale, Phil Zevenbergen, Mike Terpstra, Eric Brewe, Ray Brooks.
1986, Topeka, Kansas: Continental/Coors, Houston, Texas Coach Marty Bratton; Jimmy Gilbert, Greg Anderson, Nick Cucinella, Ron Baxter, Andrew Parker, Ernest Patterson, Alvin Franklin, Kevin Fitchett, Vick Ewing, Steve Sylestine, Harry O'Brian, Greg Skulman. 1987, Topeka, Kansas: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Coach Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; John W. Pariseau, Alvin Vaughn, Lorenzo Romar, Jay Triano, Zack Jones, Todd Burton, Phil Zevenbergen, Tom Gneiting, Eddie Smith, Sven Meyers, Ron Vanderschaaf. 1988, Topeka, Kansas: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Coach Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; John W. Pariseau, Brian Kellerman, Lorenzo Romar, Phil Hopson, Jay Triano, Dan Weiss, Ricky Brown, Zak Jones, Al Kristmanson, Kevin Sprewer. 1989, Topeka, Kansas: US Armed Forces – at Topeka, Kansas Coaches Harold Johnson and Bill Carry; Earl Wilson, Kevin Houston, Timothy Wilson, Samural Addison, Kevin Bradshaw, Dion Brown, Raymond Lettstom, K.E. Whittaker, Walter Golden, Willie Linder, Charles Bailey, David Robinson. 1990, Topeka, Kansas: Sam Ragnone, Attorney – Flint, Michigan – at Topeka, Kansas Coach Sam Ragnone; Joel Ragland, Lamar Edwards, Darrin Fitzgerald, Tom Hawkins, Terry Duerod, Eric Turner, Ray Keiser, Greg Kelser, Lorenzo Orr, Zack Hicks, Rony Thompkins, Ernest Williams. 1991, Topeka, Kansas: Lafayette Hustlers – Lafayette, Indiana Coach Jim Bower, Ryan Berning, Ricky Hall, Derrick Johnson, Kip Jones, Walter Jordan, John Teague, Shawn Teague, Chad Tucker, Tim Hasley, T. Cutter. 1992, Topeka, Kansas: Sam Ragnone Attorney – Flint, Michigan Coach Sam Ragnone, Darrin Fitzgerald, Lamar Edwards, Eric Turner, Terry Duerod (MVP), Gilvannie Johnson, Jones, Phil Hubbard, Greg Kelser. 1993, Topeka, Kansas: USA Verich Reps – Warren, Ohio
Coach Louis Cathcart, Derrick Fields, Mergin Sina, Darrin Morningstar, Bill Edwards, Johnny McDole, Louis Geter, Trig Lee, Dapris Owens, Harris, Craig, Hodges. 1994, Topeka, Kansas: MNS Stars – Kansas City, Missouri
Coach Milton R. Bradley, Nate Buntin, Stan Bradley, Aaron Collier, Michael Irvin, Will Scott, Jamal Coleman, Deryl Kearney, Deryl Conningham, Stan Bradley, Jay Boster, Cody, Waters. 1995, Topeka, Kansas: Team Pella – Des Moines, Iowa
Michael Born, Ron Bayless, Brad Pippett, Howard Eaton, Sam Powell, Fred Brown, Paul Doerrfeld. 1996, Topeka, Kansas: Bankers and Investors-Kansas City, Missouri Coach Riley Maher, Burce Chubick, Eugene Cheadle, Rick Muller, Brian Maher, Dion Barnes, Tom Wald, Ralph Davis, Mac Irvin, Terrance Badgett, Erwin Claggett, Chris Haynes. 1997, Topeka, Kansas: Marathon Basketball – Joliette, Illinois Coach Mark Simpson, Curt Smith, Erwin Claggett, Willie Murdaugh, Jerald Ryner, Jeff Harris, Steve Showalter, Rick Hughes, Mikki Moore. 1998, Topeka, Kansas: Pella Windows – Des Moines, IA Coach Michael J. Born, Michael Born, Ron Bayless, Carl Pickett, Brad Pippett, Troy Wade, Tony Harvey, Jeff Hrubes.
1977, Lake Worth, Florida: Armed Forces All Stars
Coach Hal Fisher, Assistant Wilbert Logan; Jyrona Ralston, Robert Sherwin, Eddie Brown, Pierre Russell, James Penn, George Hester, Jerome Benning, Ron Brown, Bobby Young, Richard McGuire, Alfred Forney, L.C. Pierce. 1978, at London, Kentucky: Christian Youth Center, Joliet Illinois
Coach Glen Sergent; Tim Bryant, Dennis Taylor, Steve Clum, Jim Bocinski, Huby Marshall, Jim Calhoun, Frank Kaminsky, Houston Lloyd, Bill Glover. 1979, Ponca City, Oklahoma: Christian Youth Center, Joliet, Illinois
Coach Glen Sergent; Allan Hardy (MVP), Dennis Taylor, Steve Clum, Jim Bocinski, Huby Marshall, Kerry Hughes, Frank Kaminsky, Craig Burtyn, Bill Glover.
1979 and 1980: at Florida 1980, St. Augustine, Florida: Airliner Basketball Club, Iowa City, Iowa Coach Jim Baker, Assistant Dante Vignaroli, Sponsor Doug Tvedt; Fred Haberecht, Mike Gatens, Neil Fegebank, Glenn Vicnovic, William Mayfield, Clay Hargrave, Rick Engel, Pete Griffin, Tom Norma, Dick Peth, John Hairston, Gary DeCarlo. 1981, St. Augustine, Florida: Brewster-Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington
Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; Joe Leonard, Mark Scott, Marion Pericin, Tony Barnes, Stan Walker, Todd Burton, Dennis Johnson, Jeff Stoutt, Wayne Smith, Joe Webb.
1982, Portland, Oregon: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington
Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; Joe Webb, Eric Brewe, Gene Glenn, Dan Caldwell, Todd Burton, Joe Leonard, Steve Matzen, Rob Visser, Ray Orange, Billy Turney Loos, John Greig, John W. Pariseau. 1983, Ponca City, Oklahoma: Houston Flyers, Houston, Texas Coach Marty Bratton, Assistant Howard Knight, John Flewellen; Latrell Mitchell, Harry O'Brien, Steve Sylestine, Ed Jeffries, Andrew Parker, Ricky Hooker, Randy Martel, Hiram Harrison, David Marrs, Larry Hendrix, Kenny Austin.
1984, Las Vegas, Nevada: Paul-Son Dice, Las Vegas, Nevada Coach Larry Keever, Manager Mike Pilz, Sponsor Paul-Son Dice and Card, Inc; Terry Manghum, Alan Holder, Melvin Washington, Bobby Joe Jacobs, Cris Jackson, Armon Gilliam, Mel Bennet, Keith Star, Greg Goorjian, Kenny Harmon, Sam Smith.

### 1999-present

1999-2000 at Des Moines 1999, Sisam Arena, Des Moines, Iowa: Palmer's Tornadoes, Des Moines, IA
Coach David Palmer, Sam Crawford, David Palmer, Tim Gill, Lamar Hillsman, Darrel "A.J." Waley, Stan Gouard, Rocky Walls, Wayne Houston, Ed Johnson, Ray Poindexter. 2000, Sisam Arena, Des Moines, Iowa: Palmer's Tornadoes – Des Moines, IA Coach Stan Gouard, Asst. Coach David Palmer, Wayne Houston (MVP), Kevin Sams, Justin Wimmer, Tim Gill, Lonnie Cooper, Tyrone Barksdale, D. Taylor, Carl Pickett, Ed Johnson, M. Stephany. 2001-2005 at Sacramento 2001, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA: Shell-Widman – Elk Grove, CA Coach David Shell, Shann Ferch (MVP), Charles Terrell, Ali Thomas, Robert Richardson, Lossie Mitchell, Thomas Washington, Justin Leslie, Jason Cox, Rich Manning, Tito Addison, Jimmie Carol. 2002, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA: Posse – San Jose, CA – at Sacramento, California Coach Joe Molina, Asst. Coach Al Gordon, Brian Jones (MVP), Wayman Strickland, Champ Wrencher, Darrel Teat, Dave Smith, Chris Samdahl, Steve Ross, Richard Morton, Julius Hicks, Brian Gomez. 2003, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA: Sunny's Rebels – Seattle, WA Coach Sunny Backlund, Antuan Jones (MVP), Jackie Jones, Chuck Johnson, Donald Watts, Brian Dennis, Darnell Taylor, Chris Walcott 2004, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA: Maine Lobsters, Bangor, Maine Coach Charlie Wilson, Fred Hooks (MVP), Demarius Akins, Moses Alvarez, Ed Fontaine, William Genung, Shaun Jackson, Fred Nichols, Rico Redd, TK Reed, Alton "Sonny" Smith, Shannon Taylor, Al Williams 2005, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA: Mitchell-McKineyz "New Beginnings 4 Youth," Columbus, Ohio Coach Tony Rice, Tony Rice (MVP), Larry Abney, Ben Berry, Tony Givens, Isaac Jefferson, John Spain, Orenthall Strothers, Shannon Swillis, Chad Younger. 2007: NA 2006: NA 2008, Cocoa Beach, Florida: 102 Jamz, Orlando, Florida Brian S, Mike S, Mike E (MVP), Jason, Shawn S, T’here, Pete, Dave 2009, Reno, Nevada: Gold Rush, San Francisco, CA
Coach, Rick Lewis: Jovan Harris (MVP), Cardell butler, Xavier McNally, Dean Browne, John Tofi, Johnny Dukes, Reggie Smith, Larry Reggie.

## MVP award

| Year | MVP | Team | Champion |
| 1954 | George Macuga | US Army | Peoria Cats |
| 1955 | George Bales | US Marine Cops | Phillips 66ers |
| 1956 | Jim Bond | Pasadena Mirror Glaze | Buchan Bakers |
| 1957 | Tom Meschery | San Francisco Olympic Club | US Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1958 | Harvey Schmidt | Denver-Chicago Truckers | Peoria Cats |
| 1959 | Dick Boushka | Wichita Vickers | Wichita Vickers |
| 1960 | Bob Boozer | Peoria Cats | Peoria Cats |
| 1961 | Horace Walker | Denver-Chicago Truckers | Cleveland Pipers |
| 1962 | Gary Thompson | Phillips 66ers | Phillips 66ers |
| 1963 | Don Kojis | Phillips 66ers | Phillips 66ers |
| 1964 | Larry Brown | Akron Wingfoots | Akron Wingfoots |
| 1965 | Vern Benson | US Armed Forces All-Stars | US Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1966 | Cazzie Russell | Ford Mustangs | Ford Mustangs |
| 1967 | Harold Sergent | Phillips 66ers | Akron Wingfoots |
| 1968 | Mike Barrett | US Armed Forces (Navy) | US Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1969 | Garfield Smith | US Armed Forces (Army) | US Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1970 | Mike Silliman | US Armed Forces (Navy) | US Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1971 | Darnell Hillman | US Armed Forces (Navy) | US Armed Forces All-Stars |
| 1972 | Richard Harris | Marion-Kay | US Armed Forces All-Stars |

## Notable teams

* Phillips 66ers
* Akron Wingfoots
* Denver Nuggets
* Peoria Cats
* US Armed Forces All-Stars
* Buchan Bakers
* Cleveland Pipers
* Kansas City Athletic Club
* Oakland Bittners

## AAU players who became NBA All-Stars

* Dick Barnett (Cleveland Pipers)
* Bob Boozer (Peoria Caterpillars)
* Vince Boryla (Denver Nuggets)
* Richie Guerin (Quantico Marines)
* Don Kojis (Phillips 66ers)
* Clyde Lee (Knoxville Contac Caps)
* Clyde Lovellette (Phillips 66ers)
* Tom Meschery (San Francisco Olympic Club)
* Don Ohl (Peoria Cats)
* Jim Pollard (San Diego Dons, Oakland Bittners)
* Flynn Robinson (Denver Capital)
* Bob Rule (Denver Capital)
* Cazzie Russell (Detroit Ford Mustangs)
* Ken Sears (San Francisco Olympic Club)
* George Yardley (San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets, Los Alamitos Naval Air Station)

## Trial Games

The AAU also sent teams to the Olympic Trial Games organized before each Olympic tournament. The results of the teams would finally decide the players would play for the USA Team in the Olympics. The playoffs had a massive interest drawing huge crowds to the hosting venues.
Similar games were organized for the FIBA World Cups.

### Olympic Trials

1936: Universal Pictures – McPherson Globe Refiners 44–43
1948: Phillips 66ers – Kentucky Wildcats 53–49
1952: Peoria Caterpillars – Kansas University Jayhawks 62–60
1956: Phillips 66ers

### Pan American Games Trial

1959: NCAA All-Stars (3–0) – Phillips 66ers (2–1)

### Pan-American Exposition

1901: Buffalo Germans

### FIBA World Cup Trial

1950: Denver Chevrolets 1954: Peoria Caterpillars