Bert Born

Bertram H. "B. H." Born was an American basketball player who had a successful college career at the University of Kansas and later played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

Player Profile and Personal Life

Bertram H. Born was born on June 6, 1932, in Osawatomie, Kansas, United States. He stood 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 205 pounds during his playing career.

He played as a center and wore jersey number 23 for the Kansas Jayhawks. Born died on February 3, 2013, in Peoria, Illinois, at the age of 80.

High School and College Career

Born graduated from Medicine Lodge High School in Kansas in 1950. He then played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks from 1951 to 1954.

During his college career, Born was part of the 1952 NCAA championship team. In 1953, he was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Professional Career

Although Born was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 3rd round of the 1954 NBA Draft, he chose not to play in the National Basketball Association. Instead, he joined the Peoria Caterpillars of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

Born played for the Caterpillars from 1954 to 1959. During his AAU career, he was named an AAU All-American twice (1957, 1958) and won two AAU championships (1954, 1958).

Born also represented the United States in international competitions, winning a gold medal at the 1954 FIBA World Championship in Rio de Janeiro.

Career Highlights:

• 1952 – NCAA champion (Kansas)
• 1953 – NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• 1954, 1958 – AAU champion
• 1957, 1958 – AAU All-American
• 1954 – Gold medal, FIBA World Championship

• Jersey number 23 retired by the Kansas Jayhawks