1973 – Tony Crino*

The fast-stepping forward/center Tony, his nickname, was far away the best deaf basketball player ever seen around the EAAD and AAAD in many, many seasons.   The 5–11 Tony was one of a few outstanding rebounding and eagle-eye sharpshooting players in the EAAD history.   He cleverly draw fouls and for that, he was a high-percentage accuracy free throwing shooter.   He was the EAAD´s first most valuable player as he led his Pittsburgh team defeat Silent Athletic Club of Philadelphia by a single point in 1946.   He was voted the EAAD most valuable player two more times as he scored 46 points in two games in 1949 and 64 in 1950 and his teams won both championships.   Tony was the EAAD´s first player to score 200 and 300 points in the tournaments.   The six-time All-star finished with 373 points in 12 tournaments.   He led all the scores in the AAAD national basketball tournament twice – 41 points in 1946 and 59 in 1949 and was picked to the national team All-stars in same years.   He set many records in the state district basketball tournament in Pennsylvania, and was named to the district all-star teams countless times and was awarded the most valuable player several times.   Tony was selected
High School Basketball All-American at Western Pennsylvania for the Deaf in Pittsburgh four times – 1942–1945.