Cumberland Posey
From Hoopedia
Cumberland "Cum" Willis Posey, Jr. (June 20, 1890 in Homestead, Pennsylvania - March 28, 1946 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an African American athlete and sports entrepreneur in the early to mid-Twentieth Century. A 5'9" 140 lbs. guard, Posey used his quickness, intelligence and pugnacity to win. As a player, coach and manager of the Monticello Athletic Association team and the Loendi Big Five, Posey won the Colored Basketball World's Championship five times.
He led Homestead High to the 1908 city championship, played basketball at Penn State College for two years and did a basketball stint at Pitt. Posey later played for Duquesne University, using the alias "Charles Cumbert," passed for white and led the Dukes in scoring from 1916-1918.
In 1909 Posey formed the Monticello Athletic Association team that won the Colored Basketball World's Championship in 1912. (Sometimes the club is referred to as the the Monticello Delaney Rifles or Monticello Rifles). In 1913 Posey changed the team name to Loendi Big Five. Loendi won the Colored Basketball World's Championship four years in a row, from 1920 to 1923.
Posey was renowned for making his long-distance shots, which were considered crazy by the proponents of "scientific basketball," i.e., set plays which resulted in uncontested lay-ups. In a famous game between the Washington, DC Howard Big Five and the Monticellos on March 8, 1912, Posey led the way, pouring in 15 points in a 24-19 victory.
Posey also played baseball, eventually owning the successful Negro League Homestead Grays and becoming a force in tbe Negro National League.
