Lazar, Nat : Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum

Lazar, Nat

Nathan Lazar

Lazar was an All-America in 1933, playing for St. John's University in the 1930s. During his two-year varsity career. he was considered one of the best players in the New York Metropolitan area. A two-time All-Metropolitan, Lazar led the team in scoring average in 1932 and 1933 and led St. John's to a two-year record of 45-8.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
Over a two-year span at St. John's University, Lazar was one of the best college basketball players in New York City. He began his varsity career as a forward in 1931-32, the year following the graduation of the famed "Wonder Five" team that lost only four games in three seasons for St. John's. A graduate of James Monroe High School, Lazar was praised by the press prior to the season as, "...a fine dribbler and floor man and may be the same tantalizing menace to the opposition that Kinsbrunner was for two years." (Mac Kinsbrunner was an All-America player and a member of the "Wonder Five")

That season, St. John's won their first eight games before losing to rival CCNY (City College of New York). They went on to finish the year with a terrific 22-4 record, and Nat was named second team All-Metropolitan by "Big Six" Met coaches (representing CCNY, NYU, St. John's, Manhattan, Fordham, and Columbia). During the regular season, Nat appeared in all 26 games and led the team in scoring with 190 points, a 7.3 points per game average, and 40 successful free throws.

The following year, Lazar was unanimously selected to the New York Evening Post's All-Metropolitan first team; he was also named College Humor second team All-America. He finished sixth in scoring in the New York Metropolitan area with 186 points in 26 games; his 7.2 points per game average led the team. Nat led St. John's to a sterling record of 23-4; they were considered one of the best teams in the nation that year (there was no official poll until the late 1940s). Although he had one year of eligibility remaining prior to the 1934 season, Lazar left school before his senior year and did not play for St. John's that season.

Origin:
New York

Career Dates:
Lazar played forward at St. John's University from 1932-33.



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References:
encyclopedia of JEWS in sports, by Bernard Postal, Jesse Silver, and Roy Silver (New York: Bloch Publishing Co., 1965)
Inside Sports Magazine: College Basketball, by Mike Douchant with Jim Nantz (Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1997)
Ronald Encyclopedia of Basketball, edited by William G. Mokray (Ronald Press: 1962)
New York Evening Post, March 3, 1932
New York Times, March 13, 1933