Dave Downey

David John Downey (born October 28, 1941) is a former collegiate basketball player for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team. He is best known for setting the Illinois single-game scoring record with 53 points at Indiana on February 16, 1963.

Dave Downey

Downey circa 1963
Personal information
Born	(1941-10-28) October 28, 1941 (age 83) Canton, Illinois
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Canton (Canton, Illinois)
College	Illinois (1960–1963)
NBA draft	1963: 4th round, 30th overall pick
Drafted by	San Francisco Warriors
Position	Forward
Career highlights
Big Ten Medal of Honor (1963)
Stats at Basketball Reference

Downey's 18.9 career scoring average ranks fourth in school history while his 11.0 career rebounding average ranks third, with his 790 career rebounds ranking seventh on the career list. Downey earned the 1963 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor for excellence in both academics and athletics. He was drafted into the NBA in 1963 by the San Francisco Warriors; however, he never played a game in the league.

Downey was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004.

Downey was the leading scorer for his hometown high school, Canton High School. His record was then broken by Kevin Rhodes. When asked about this accomplishment, Downey simply said, "It was only a matter of time until Kevin Rhodes broke my record."

Honors

Basketball

• 1961 – Team MVP^[1]
• 1961 – 2nd Team All-Big Ten
• 1961 – Honorable Mention All American
• 1962 – Team MVP
• 1962 – 2nd Team All-Big Ten
• 1962 – Honorable Mention All American
• 1963 – Team MVP
• 1963 – 1st Team All-Big Ten
• 1963 – 1st Team All American
• 1963 – Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient
• 1963 – NCAA All-Regional Team
• 1973 – Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame as a player.^[2][3]
• 2004 – Elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team".
• 2008 – Honored as one of the thirty-three honored jerseys which hang in the State Farm Center to show regard for being the most decorated basketball players in the University of Illinois' history.
• 2018 – Inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame^[4]

Statistics

Season	Games	Points	PPG	Field Goals	Attempts	Avg	Free Throws	Attempts	Avg	Rebounds	Avg	Big Ten Record	Overall Record
1960–61	24	402	16.8	157	404	.389	88	123	.715	267	11.1	5–9	9–15
1961–62	22	445	20.2	174	385	.452	97	130	.746	269	12.2	7–7	15–8
1962–63	26	513	19.7	201	459	.438	111	156	.712	254	9.8	11–3	20–6
Totals	72	1360	18.9	532	1248	.426	296	409	.724	790	11.0	23–19	44–29

^[5]