Players

Dave Downey

Year Inducted: 1973

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations: Canton High School
The University of Illinois

Biography: Dave Downey attended Canton HS where he earned all-state player honors during his junior and senior seasons.  Many basketball experts consider Downey as the best pure shooter in Illinois prep history. 

He was voted MVP at the University of Illinois all three of his varsity seasons.  He was all Big Ten 1^st team in 1963.  His 53 points against Indiana set the single game U of I record.  As of his passing in 2025, this record still stood. (Note that this record was set nearly 20 years before the 3 point line was introduced to college basketball.)

He won the Big Ten medal of honor for proficiency of academics in athletics.  Downey was elected to the Illinois Men’s Basketball All Century Team in 2004.  Dave went on to become a renowned insurance company owner and inspirational speaker.

Dave Downey died on December 27, 2025 at the age of 84.