Tarzan Cooper facts for kids

Charles Theodore "Tarzan" Cooper (born August 30, 1907 – died December 19, 1980) was an amazing African American professional basketball player. He is so famous that he is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. People mostly remember him for playing with the New York Renaissance team from 1929 to 1941. This team was special because it was made up of all Black players.

Who Was Tarzan Cooper?

Charles Cooper was born in Newark, Delaware. After playing basketball at Philadelphia Central High School, he became a professional player in 1925. He first played for teams like the Philadelphia Panthers and the Philadelphia Saints.

Joining the New York Renaissance

In 1929, Cooper joined the New York Renaissance, also known as the Rens. He played with them for eleven seasons. Back then, the main professional basketball leagues were only for white players. Because of this, teams like the Rens, Panthers, and Saints were independent. They played against other teams but were not part of the big leagues.

A Basketball Legend

Tarzan Cooper was very tall for his time, standing at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm). Many people thought he was one of the best players ever. Hall of Famer Joe Lapchick, who was a rival player for the Original Celtics, even called Cooper the greatest center he had ever seen.

Charles Cooper passed away at the age of 73 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.