Kaplan, Al

Alex Kaplan

Kaplan was an important player on the outstanding Columbia University teams of the late 1940s. Al was also a member of the school's first team to ever appear in the postseason, in 1948.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
Kaplan played guard at Columbia for three seasons in the late 1940s. In 1948, Kaplan was a member of the Columbia team that had a magnificent 21-1 record, won the Ivy League title with an 11-1 conference mark, and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament -- the school's first-ever postseason appearance. In the first round, the Lions faced mighty Kentucky (the eventual National Champions). Kaplan scored 12 points in Columbia's 76-53 loss to the Wildcats. He then scored 4 points in the Lions' 66-49 loss to Michigan in the East Regional consolation game.

The next two years, the Lions played well, but did not return to the postseason. In 1949, they compiled an overall record of 14-6, but finished second in the Ivy League with an 8-4 mark. In Kaplan's senior season, Columbia again finished second in the Ivy League with a 9-3 record, achieving an outstanding overall mark of 22-7.

Origin:
unknown

Career Dates:
Kaplan played guard at Columbia from 1947-1950.

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