Former Long Island Basketball Great Albie Grant Passes Away
4/17/2004
Brooklyn, NY -- Albert "Albie" Grant, one of Long Island University's all-time men's basketball greats, died Thursday following complications from diabetes. He was 60.
Grant played for the Blackbirds from 1963-66, helping them to a 52-20 record, and was a dominant force in the paint despite only standing 6'4". He left as the school's second all-time leading scorer with 1,403 points and its most prolific rebounder with 975. Those marks today place him in 11th and second place, respectively, in LIU annals.
The Manhattan native remains the only player in school history to average more than 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in his career.
Grant enjoyed his greatest success during the 1965-66 campaign, when he led LIU to the second of its back-to-back Tri-State League championships. Grant averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest to easily lead the team, was presented the Haggerty Award as the metropolitan area's most valuable player and was selected an All-American.
His efforts helped him earn enshrinement into LIU's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. He was one of the first 22 student-athletes, coaches and administrators so honored.
Grant taught at various schools in New York City, most recently at Manhattan High School. In the 1990's, he earned a Medical Doctor's Degree at the University of Madrid.
His funeral will be held Wednesday, April 21 at the Redden Funeral Home in Manhattan on 14th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. He is survived by his sister, Annette Grant.