Al Seiden
Encyclopedia
Alan "Al" Seiden was an American
collegiate and professional basketball player. He led St. John's University
to the 1959 National Invitation Tournament
title and later played professionally with the Pittsburgh Rens
of the American Basketball League.
Seiden was a New York City
schoolboy star at Jamaica High School
, leading his team to the PSAL
title in 1955 as a senior. He chose to stay close to home for college, playing for Hall of Fame coach Joe Lapchick
at St. John's University. Seiden became a star at St. John's, leading the Redmen to two straight National Invitation Tournament
s in 1958
and 1959. Seiden averaged 20.4 and 21.9 points per game as a junior and senior and ended his Redmen career with 1,374 points. He served as team captain both seasons
In 1959, Seiden led the Redmen to the NIT title as the unseeded 17–9 squad upset the field to win a tournament that was then seen as prestigious as the NCAA Tournament. Seiden capped his senior season by being named a consensus second team All-American
and won the Haggerty Award
as the top player in the New York City metro area.
After his college career ended, Seiden was drafted in the second round of the 1959 NBA Draft
by the St. Louis Hawks. He failed to make the roster, and played for the next few years in the Eastern Professional Basketball League
and in 1961 with the Pittsburgh Rens of the American Basketball League.
Seiden died on May 3, 2008 of complications from stroke.
In March 2011, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
collegiate and professional basketball player. He led St. John's University
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
to the 1959 National Invitation Tournament
1959 National Invitation Tournament
The 1959 National Invitation Tournament was the 1959 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
title and later played professionally with the Pittsburgh Rens
Pittsburgh Rens
The Pittsburgh Rens were an American basketball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that was a member of the American Basketball League. The founder of the ABL, Abe Saperstein, was the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters who had competed for many decades against the New York Rens and eventually...
of the American Basketball League.
Seiden was a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
schoolboy star at Jamaica High School
Jamaica High School (New York City)
Jamaica High School is a four-year public high school in Queens, New York. The school is administered by the New York City Department of Education.-History:...
, leading his team to the PSAL
PSAL
The Public Schools Athletic League, known by the acronym PSAL, is an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. It was founded in 1903 to provide and maintain a sports program for students enrolled in New York City public schools. The PSAL serves both boys...
title in 1955 as a senior. He chose to stay close to home for college, playing for Hall of Fame coach Joe Lapchick
Joe Lapchick
Joseph Bohomiel Lapchick was a professional basketball player, mostly known for playing with the Original Celtics in the 1920s and 30s. He is commonly regarded as the best center of his era, overshadowed in his later years only by Tarzan Cooper...
at St. John's University. Seiden became a star at St. John's, leading the Redmen to two straight National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
s in 1958
1958 National Invitation Tournament
The 1958 National Invitation Tournament was the 1958 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
and 1959. Seiden averaged 20.4 and 21.9 points per game as a junior and senior and ended his Redmen career with 1,374 points. He served as team captain both seasons
In 1959, Seiden led the Redmen to the NIT title as the unseeded 17–9 squad upset the field to win a tournament that was then seen as prestigious as the NCAA Tournament. Seiden capped his senior season by being named a consensus second team All-American
1959 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1959 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of five major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International, the...
and won the Haggerty Award
Haggerty Award
The Haggerty Award is given to the All-Metropolitan New York Division I men's college basketball player of the year, presented by the National Invitation Tournament and the Met Basketball Writers Association...
as the top player in the New York City metro area.
After his college career ended, Seiden was drafted in the second round of the 1959 NBA Draft
1959 NBA Draft
The 1959 NBA Draft was the 13th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 31, 1959 before the 1959–60 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. In each round, the teams select in reverse order of...
by the St. Louis Hawks. He failed to make the roster, and played for the next few years in the Eastern Professional Basketball League
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
and in 1961 with the Pittsburgh Rens of the American Basketball League.
Seiden died on May 3, 2008 of complications from stroke.
In March 2011, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.