Bill Kotsores
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Kotsores (September 18, 1924 – June 1971) was an American
basketball player best known for his collegiate career at St. John's University in the 1940s. He played on the school's team during the 1943–44 and 1944–45
seasons. Each year, the Red Storm advanced to the National Invitation Tournament
(NIT), which at the time was considered the premier men's college basketball postseason tournament. St. John's won the NIT during Kotsores' junior
year, and he was named the 1944 NIT Tournament MVP after scoring 40 points in three games. The following year, St. John's failed to repeat at NIT champions, but Kotsores was honored with the Haggerty Award
. The Haggerty Award is given annually to the best male collegiate basketball player in the New York City metropolitan area every year since 1935–36. Despite a soild career at St. John's in which he was twice named an All-American
, Kotsores never played professionally.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player best known for his collegiate career at St. John's University in the 1940s. He played on the school's team during the 1943–44 and 1944–45
1944–45 NCAA men's basketball season
-Season headlines:*More than 18,000 fans attended Madison Square Garden for the final installment of an annual American Red Cross benefit game between the NCAA Tournament and NIT champions. Oklahoma A&M, led by Bob Kurland, defeated George Mikan's DePaul 52–44...
seasons. Each year, the Red Storm advanced to the 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...
(NIT), which at the time was considered the premier men's college basketball postseason tournament. St. John's won the NIT during Kotsores' junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year, and he was named the 1944 NIT Tournament MVP after scoring 40 points in three games. The following year, St. John's failed to repeat at NIT champions, but Kotsores was honored with 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...
. The Haggerty Award is given annually to the best male collegiate basketball player in the New York City metropolitan area every year since 1935–36. Despite a soild career at St. John's in which he was twice named an All-American
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
, Kotsores never played professionally.