Al Cooper

From Hoopedia

Al Cooper (? - ?) was an American basketball player in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in England and played soccer before turning his attention to the new indoor game, basket ball.

He learned to play basketball at the Trenton YMCA. His team, who came to be known as The Trentons, scheduled a game against the Brooklyn YMCA team at the Trenton Masonic Temple on November 7, 1896. After covering their expenses, the Trentons divided the remainder of the gate and became the first professional basketball team. Each player received $15.

He continued to play basketball as the game evolved. The Trentons played in the National Basket Ball League, the first pro league. In the 1898-99 season, the first, Cooper was the league's leading scorer with a blistering 8.8 points a game. Trenton won the championship with an 18-2 record.

With the Trentons, Al played with his brother Fred Cooper, the team organizer and captain.