Players

Don Portugal

Year Inducted: 1991

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:
Arcola High School
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Biography:  Don Portugal established three-year career marks of 21.1 ppg and 12 rpg at Arcola High School from 1966-69. Arcola would win 68 out of 83 games during Portugal’s career and it should be remembered this came before the state was split into Class A and Class AA. The Purple Riders were 23-4 in 1966-67 when Portugal averaged 21.4 ppg and 15 rpg. In 1967-68 Arcola was 25-4 and lost in the sectional finals as Portugal averaged 20.8 points and 15 rebounds. Portugal and the RIders were 20-7 in his senior year. Portugal won all-Okaw Valley honors for three years and all-area honors by the Decatur Herald and Review and Champaign News-Gazette. Portugal was named all=state by the Rockford Morning Star in 1969 and was given Top 40 player status by the Chicago Daily News. Three times Portugal earned most valuable player honors at Arcola and after graduating, as his class valedictorian, was given a scholarship to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. In 1973, he was named SIU’s scholar-athlete.