Henry "Red" Skurnick

A forward, Skurnick played professional basketball in the 1920s in the American Basketball League. The league, started in 1925, was the first attempt at a truly national professional league in basketball history, and was successful for a couple of seasons before shutting down. There would not be another attempt at a national league until 1946 when the Basketball Association of America, later called the National Basketball Association (NBA), was formed.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
Skurnick, a Chicago native, was a star at Marshall High School. Then he turned pro, appearing in four games with the Cleveland Rosenblums during the 1926-27 ABL season. The team, coached by Hall of Famer Marty Friedman, finished the regular season, 26-16, and lost in the three-game ABL Championship to the Original Celtics, 3-0. Skurnick did not play in the championship.

During the 1928-29 season, Skurnick was traded from Cleveland to his hometown Chicago Bruins. After his playing days ended, he became a coach. During World War II, he served as a corporal and coached the basketball team at Fort Leonard in Missouri.

Origin:
Chicago, Illinois

Career Dates:
Skurnick played forward in the ABL in the 1920s.