Hall of Fame
Jim Brown, a graduate of Manhasset High School (Section VIII) and Syracuse University, was one of the most prolific all-around athletes in the history of high school and collegiate athletics. During his time at Manhasset, Brown lettered in football, basketball, track and field, lacrosse, and baseball; excelling in each. In 1952, he won the Thorp Award for Most Outstanding Football Player in Nassau County in addition to averaging 38 points per game for the basketball team. The same year, Brown received two All County honors in football and two Newsday All Scholastic Honors in basketball while also winning the Nassau County High Jump Championship and was an All Metropolitan Lacrosse League Midfielder. He then went on to be an All-American in lacrosse and football star at Syracuse before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 1957 National Football League draft. While with the Browns from 1957-65, Brown was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1957, earned nine Pro Bowl selections, won three Associated Press MVP awards, was an eight-time rushing champion and won an NFL Championship in 1964. In seven pro seasons, he eclipsed at least 1,200 yards rushing and tallied 106 touchdowns during his career. In 2002, The Sport News magazine named him the greatest professional football player ever. Brown was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 and the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983. His number 32 jersey has been retired by the Cleveland Browns.