Players

Jim Dutcher

Year Inducted: 1988

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations: Downers Grove Community High School
The University of Illinois

Biography: James W. Dutcher was a living legend as a basketball player at Downers Grove Community High School. So much so, some sports writers in 1950-51 referred to Downers Grove as Dutchers Grove. As a senior, Dutcher was named to the News-Gazette All-State team. At Downers Grove, Dutcher scored more than 1,100 points in his career and averaged 27.2 ppg. The West Suburban scoring record was 212 points in 12 games before Dutcher scored 316 in just 11 games. As a senior, Dutcher had single game records of 30, 32, 34, 36 and 40 points with the pre-Dutcher West Suburban mark being 29. At Illinois under Harry Combes, Dutcher played on teams which were 81-17 from 1951-1955. His teammates included IBCA Hall of Famers, John Kerr, Paul, and Phil Judson, Max Hooper, Bill Ridley, Bruce Brothers, Ed Makovsky, and Irv Bemoras.  Jim Dutcher died on June 4, 2017 at the age of 83.