Harry Boykoff

Harry Boykoff was an American professional basketball player who had a notable college career at St. John's University before playing professionally in the early days of the National Basketball Association.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Harry J. Boykoff was born on July 24, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He stood 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 225 pounds during his playing career. Boykoff played as a center and wore jersey numbers 13, 24, and 16 during his professional career.

He was known by several nicknames, including "Big Hesh," "Heshie," and "Big Boy."

Boykoff passed away on February 20, 2001, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 78.

High School and College Career

Boykoff attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York. He then played college basketball at St. John's University from 1942 to 1943 and 1945 to 1947, with a gap likely due to military service during World War II.

At St. John's, Boykoff had an outstanding career, being named a Consensus first-team All-American in 1943 and a Second-team All-American in 1946. He was also named the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Most Valuable Player in 1943, which was a prestigious honor at a time when the NIT was considered equal to or more important than the NCAA Tournament.

Professional Career

After college, Boykoff began his professional career with the Toledo Jeeps in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1947-1948 season. He then played for the Waterloo Hawks from 1948 to 1950, initially in the NBL and then in the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the leagues merged.

Boykoff joined the Boston Celtics for the 1950-1951 NBA season and finished his professional career with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1951. His NBA debut came on November 2, 1949, and he played a total of two seasons in the league.

Career Highlights:

• 1943 - Consensus first-team All-American
• 1943 - National Invitation Tournament MVP
• 1946 - Second-team All-American