Yalçın Granit facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 September 1932 Istanbul, Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Died | 1 November 2020 (aged 88) |
| High school | Darüşşafaka High School |
| Career information | |
| Pro career | 1948–1957 |
| Coaching career | 1957–1974 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1948–1955 | Galatasaray |
| 1955–1956 | Racing Club Paris |
| 1956–1957 | Galatasaray |
| As coach: | |
| 1957–1960 | Darüşşafaka S.K. |
| 1958–1960 | Beyoğluspor |
| 1960–1963 | İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi B.K. |
| 1964–1965 | Galatasaray |
| 1967–1968 | Galatasaray |
| 1971–1974 | Eczacıbaşı |
Yalçın Granit (born September 17, 1932 – died November 1, 2020) was a famous Turkish basketball player, coach, and sports journalist. He was known for being a top scorer and for helping basketball grow in Turkey.
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Yalçın Granit: A Basketball Legend
Yalçın Granit was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 17, 1932. When he was a child, his father passed away. Because of this, he went to Darüşşafaka High School, a special school for children who had lost a parent.
From Football to Basketball
At Darüşşafaka, Yalçın first played football for the school team. However, he soon found his true passion in basketball. He quickly became very good at the sport.
Playing for Galatasaray and Beyond
When he was 17, Yalçın finished high school. He then joined the famous Galatasaray Basketball team. The team was so strong that people called them "The Invincible Armada." Yalçın played for Galatasaray for many years and even became their captain.
Playing in Europe
After studying geology at Istanbul University, Yalçın went to France. There, he made history by becoming the first Turkish basketball player to join a European team. He played for Racing Club Paris during the 1955-56 season.
Playing for the Turkish National Team
The same year he started playing for Galatasaray, Yalçın was also chosen to play for the Turkey national basketball team. He played in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Finland. He also took part in the FIBA EuroBasket tournaments in 1955 and 1957.
Yalçın was the captain of the national team for a long time. He played in 68 games for his country. During his time with Galatasaray and the national team, he was often the top scorer.
Yalçın Granit: A Successful Coach
In 1958, when he was 26, Yalçın Granit became a basketball coach. He started by coaching his old high school team, Darüşşafaka S.K..
Leading Darüşşafaka to Victory
Yalçın led Darüşşafaka to win the Istanbul Basketball League championship in 1959–60. This was their first and only time winning that title. The team also finished second in the Turkish Basketball League that same season. In the 1960–61 season, Darüşşafaka became the Turkish champion with Yalçın as their head coach.
Coaching the National Team
Yalçın also coached the Turkish national team. He was even named the "Most Successful Coach" for his great work. In 1971, he helped start the Eczacıbaşı basketball team. Under his guidance, they finished first in their division for three years in a row.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2002, Yalçın Granit became the head of the basketball section at Galatasaray S.K. He also worked as a sports journalist for newspapers like Hürriyet and Habertürk.
Yalçın is remembered for helping to create the basketball program at Darüşşafaka in 1951. He continued to support its growth and development over the years.
Yalçın Granit passed away on November 1, 2020. His funeral services were held at the Darüşşafaka Ayhan Şahenk Sports Hall and Türk Telekom Stadium. He was buried in Kilyos Cemetery.
