Leo Klier
Encyclopedia
Leo Anthony "Crystal" Klier (May 21, 1923 – June 4, 2005) was an American collegiate
and professional basketball
player.
after a standout high school career at Washington High School
in Washington, Indiana
. He played for the Fighting Irish from 1942-1946. Klier was named a consensus first-team All-American in 1944
as he notched Notre Dame's single-season scoring record (since broken). However, Klier missed the 1944-45 season as he served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. Klier returned and was again named a consensus first-team All-American in 1946
.
He was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
in 1977 and was selected to the Notre Dame All-Century basketball team in 2004.
from 1946–48. During the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons, Klier played in 113 games for the Fort Wayne Pistons, averaging 7.4 points per game. He then finished his career with the Anderson Packers
for the 1950–51 season.
Leo Klier died on June 4, 2005 in Naperville, Illinois.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Collegiate career
Klier, a 6'2 guard/forward, played collegiately at Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The program competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The school holds two national championships in...
after a standout high school career at Washington High School
Washington High School (Washington, Indiana)
for schools of the same nameWashington High School is a high school in Washington, Indiana. Its athletic mascot is "The Hatchets". The School's primary colors are old gold and black. WHS plays in the Big Eight Conference...
in Washington, Indiana
Washington, Indiana
Washington is a city in Daviess County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,509 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Daviess County.-History:...
. He played for the Fighting Irish from 1942-1946. Klier was named a consensus first-team All-American in 1944
1944 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1944 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, The Sporting News, and Pic...
as he notched Notre Dame's single-season scoring record (since broken). However, Klier missed the 1944-45 season as he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Klier returned and was again named a consensus first-team All-American in 1946
1946 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1946 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, The Sporting News, and True...
.
He was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
in 1977 and was selected to the Notre Dame All-Century basketball team in 2004.
Professional career
Following his collegiate career, Klier played Indianapolis Kautskys of the National Basketball LeagueNational Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
from 1946–48. During the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons, Klier played in 113 games for the Fort Wayne Pistons, averaging 7.4 points per game. He then finished his career with the Anderson Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
for the 1950–51 season.
Leo Klier died on June 4, 2005 in Naperville, Illinois.