Kaplowitz, Danny

Daniel Kaplowitz

Kaplowitz was named All-America and led Long Island University to the National Championship in 1939. His brother was former New York University and NBA star Ralph Kaplowitz.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. April 7, 1917 - d. Dec. 25, 1991

Career Highlights:
A guard and forward at LIU in the late 1930s , Kaplowitz was considered one of the country's best players and was a member of some excellent Blackbird teams. In 1937, he and fellow sophomores, Irv Torgoff and John Bromberg joined seniors Jules Bender, Ben Kramer, and Leo Merson on the LIU varsity team. The Blackbirds enjoyed an undefeated 1936 season (26-0); and in 1937 was considered one of the top teams in the country, running their unbeaten streak to 43-games before losing to Stanford early in the season. Finishing the year with a record of 28-3, the Blackbirds claimed the mythical New York Metropolitan championships (as did Fordham, who had a 13-3 record). Kaplowitz scored 91 points (seventh on the team) that season while appearing in 26 games as one of the first players off the LIU bench.

In 1938, Kaplowitz stepped into the starting line-up and developed into a star for the high-scoring LIU attack. The Blackbird�s second leading scorer behind Torgoff with 222 points (he was also second in the Metropolitan area in scoring), Kaplowitz helped lead LIU to a record of 23-3 and a berth in the first-ever NIT (National Invitational Tournament); it was the first national postseason competition of any kind. Kaplowitz scored eight points in LIU's first-round game against NYU, but the Blackbirds lost the game, 39-37.

In 1939, his senior season, Kaplowitz was named third team Madison Square Garden All-America and second team All-Metropolitan, finishing second on the team in scoring with 176 points. LIU, which went undefeated in the regular season (21-0), returned to the NIT as the tournament favorite. In their first-round game, Kaplowitz registered four points and the Blackbirds vanquished New Mexico A&M;, 52-45. In the semifinals of the eight-team tournament, they then defeated Bradley, 36-32 as Kaplowitz again scored four points. The victory put LIU into the NIT final against fellow-undefeated Loyola of Chicago. For the first, and incredibly, only time in NIT history, the final pitted two unbeaten teams, but the much-anticipated battle was not forthcoming. LIU dominated the game and won, 44-32, with Kaplowitz scoring nine points. The NIT victory was especially sweet for LIU when the Helms Foundation then recognized the Blackbirds as the National Champions.

Origin:
New York

Career Dates:
Kaplowitz played guard and forward at LIU from 1936-1939.

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