Forrest DeBernardi
(1899-1970)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1961
Card Shown:
1986-2002 Hall of Fame Metallic
Position: C, F, G
Height: 6’1″
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Forrest “Red” DeBernardi was one of the top basketball players of the 1920s. He could play all five positions. DeBernardi starred in high school, at the college level, and for eleven years in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). He led his teams to four straight AAU titles and was regularly an All-America selection.
Awards and Honors
- Forrest played high school basketball in Iola, Kansas for three years before transferring to Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri. At Northeast, he was selected to the All-City and All-Star teams.
- Forrest joined the Hillyard Chemical Company in 1923 and led their AAU basketball team for five seasons. With DeBernardi leading the team, Hillyard won AAU championships in 1926 and 1927.
- Later, Forrest joined the Cook Paint Company in Kansas City and led them to AAU championships in 1928 and 1929. His four consecutive AAU titles with two different teams solidified DeBernardi as one of the greatest players of his era.
- During his AAU career, Forrest participated in 11 national tournaments and was selected an AAU All-American seven times.
- In 1938, DeBernardi was chosen the All-Time center on the Associated Press (AP) All-Time All-America College Basketball team.
Points of Interest
- In 1920, DeBernardi began his college basketball career at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he was a two-time All-Conference selection.
- At Westminster College, DeBernardi played tennis, baseball, and track and field in addition to basketball. He excelled in basketball and it was his favorite sport.
- While playing at Westminster, the faculty allowed Forrest to simultaneously play AAU basketball with the Kansas City Athletic Club. DeBernardi’s team finished third in the national tournament but he was named an All-America center. The next year the Kansas City AC captured the national title and Forrest was again an All-America selection.
- The 1919-20 Westminster team went 17-0. In one game in 1920, DeBernardi scored 50 points, an incredible point total for that time.
- In 1952, Forrest was recognized with the Helms Athletic Foundation award for his basketball achievements.