Platt, Harry

In 1939, Platt, who was Brown University's single-game scoring record-holder, was the first Jewish player to play in the NCAA postseason basketball tournament. During World War II, Harry was a physical education instructor for the U.S. Army Air Force . After the war, he ran a sporting goods store in Rhode Island and coached the Bryant College basketball team. He was also an instructor for the Brown Community for Learning in Retirement and a salesman for C.J. Fox Co. for 36 years.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Jan. 3, 1918 - d. April 6, 1997

Career Highlights:
A center and forward during his college career, Platt played his ball at Brown University and was named first team All-New England three straight seasons (1938-1940). A prolific scorer during the 1938 season (Brown went 8-11), Platt scored 48 points against Northeastern, which is still the school's single-game scoring record as of July 2002 (tied for fifth all-time in Ivy League history). He finished the season with 406 points in 19 games.

The following year, Platt switched to the role of playmaker for Brown's younger players, and helped the team attain the most successful season in school history. Brown finished with a regular season record of 17-2 and Platt was named first team All-New England. He repeated as the team's leading scorer with 247 points and led Brown to the school's first postseason tournament appearance.

In the first-ever NCAA tournament (the NIT began the previous year), Platt scored seven points, but the Bruins lost to Villanova, 42-30, in the first round. The second leading scorer on the team in the game, Platt was the only Jewish player in the NCAA tournament that year. In fact, Harry played in the first-ever NCAA tournament game, since the Brown-Villanova contest was the first game played in 1939.

In 1940, Platt continued his leadership role as the captain of the Brown team, which finished 14-6. Although not solely interested in scoring, he had periods of great playing, including a 20-point outburst against Dartmouth (a 56-47 Brown victory) late in the season. Following his graduation in 1940, Platt played professional basketball in leagues in Philadelphia, Rochester (New York), and Pittsfield (Massachusetts). He is a member of the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame.

Origin:
Massachusetts

Career Dates:
Platt played center and forward at Brown University from 1938-1940.

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