Friends of Basketball

Nelson Campbell

Year Inducted: 2013

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: Author

Biography: Nelson has authored two books pertaining to Illinois basketball.  The first was Grass Roots and Schoolyards, folowed by a regional sequel two years later, titled, Illinky.  At one point in the 1980’s Nelson had seen all or parts of 33 of 39 IHSA State Basketball tournaments.  He became an “unaffiliated, unrequited state basketball historian.”  Nelson was editor of a coaching magazine, Athletic Journal,  from 1984-86.  Nelson Campbell died on April 18, 2020 at the age of 97.