Bruce Douglas (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Douglas is a retired American
professional basketball
player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School
four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois
. He also briefly played professionally with the Sacramento Kings
and in the CBA
.
teams, while leading the team in assists. Douglas nearly led the team to another undefeated season his senior year. The team finally lost the 1982 semifinal game, after a then-state record 64-game winning streak. The team ended up with a third place trophy, Douglas's third top-four state finish in his four years. He was once again named to all-state teams, and was a Parade Magazine all-American. He was named Mr. Basketball
in the state of Illinois in 1982. He finished among the leaders in every statistical category at Quincy High school. He holds the record for points scored (2,040) and field goals made (890), and is second in rebounds (709) and assists (643). He amassed an amazing 123-5 win-loss record during his four years at QHS. Out of high school, he was recruited to play for Lou Henson
at the University of Illinois. In 2007, Douglas was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA
Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.
appearances. In the 1983-84 season, the Illini won the Big Ten
championship, and went to the elite eight. The team came just short of its first final four since 1952, losing a controversial game to the University of Kentucky
, which was played in Rupp Arena
. Douglas finished a successful career with Illinois, ending up a leader in many statistical categories. Douglas is 22nd on the list of Illinois leading scorers with 1261 points. His record for most minutes played was surpassed by Dee Brown in 2006. He still holds the Illini record for career steals (324) and assists (765). He earned first-team All Big Ten honors in 1984, second-team in '85 and '86, and honorable mention in '83. He was a third-team all-American in 1984, and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and '86. In October 2004, Douglas was named to the Illinois All-Century Team. Illinois fans voted him as one of the 20 best Fighting Illini basketball players in the 100-year history of the program.
, going to the Sacramento Kings. He played one season with the Kings, then went to play for a short time in the CBA. After leaving the CBA, he pursued a career in business, and he now resides in the Chicago area.
Douglas returned to Blue Devil Gym on January 6, 2007 during the first Quincy High School
/Quincy Notre Dame High School
boys basketball game since 1971. He was one of the honorees to sign the Illinois High School Association's Hall of Fame ball, along with another former Quincy High player, Bruce Brothers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School
Quincy Senior High School
-History:The first school dedicated to high school students in Quincy, Illinois opened in 1891 at the corner of 12th and Maine. This "Pride of the Gem City" served students until 1933 when the "new" Quincy Senior High opened at 14th and Maine in 1933. The building sits along Historic Maine Street...
four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He also briefly played professionally with the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and in the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
.
High school
Douglas played on the varsity basketball team at Quincy High School all four years he was in school. He came off the bench, playing meaningful minutes for the team that finished second in the state with a 32-1 record. He started his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, and led the Blue Devils to their most successful seasons in the history of the program. He led the team in scoring his sophomore year with 19.4 points per game. His junior year, the Blue Devils went undefeated, won the state championship, and were named national champions. He was named to both all-state and All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
teams, while leading the team in assists. Douglas nearly led the team to another undefeated season his senior year. The team finally lost the 1982 semifinal game, after a then-state record 64-game winning streak. The team ended up with a third place trophy, Douglas's third top-four state finish in his four years. He was once again named to all-state teams, and was a Parade Magazine all-American. He was named Mr. Basketball
Illinois Mr. Basketball
Each year the Illinois Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of Illinois....
in the state of Illinois in 1982. He finished among the leaders in every statistical category at Quincy High school. He holds the record for points scored (2,040) and field goals made (890), and is second in rebounds (709) and assists (643). He amassed an amazing 123-5 win-loss record during his four years at QHS. Out of high school, he was recruited to play for Lou Henson
Lou Henson
Lou Henson is a former college basketball coach. He retired as the all time leader in victories at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with 423 victories and New Mexico State with 289 victories...
at the University of Illinois. In 2007, Douglas was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.
College
Douglas started all four years he played at Illinois. He led the team at point guard to four consecutive NCAA tournamentNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances. In the 1983-84 season, the Illini won the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship, and went to the elite eight. The team came just short of its first final four since 1952, losing a controversial game to the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, which was played in Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and serves as home court to the University of...
. Douglas finished a successful career with Illinois, ending up a leader in many statistical categories. Douglas is 22nd on the list of Illinois leading scorers with 1261 points. His record for most minutes played was surpassed by Dee Brown in 2006. He still holds the Illini record for career steals (324) and assists (765). He earned first-team All Big Ten honors in 1984, second-team in '85 and '86, and honorable mention in '83. He was a third-team all-American in 1984, and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and '86. In October 2004, Douglas was named to the Illinois All-Century Team. Illinois fans voted him as one of the 20 best Fighting Illini basketball players in the 100-year history of the program.
Professional
Out of college, Douglas was selected in the third round of the 1986 NBA Draft1986 NBA Draft
-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
, going to the Sacramento Kings. He played one season with the Kings, then went to play for a short time in the CBA. After leaving the CBA, he pursued a career in business, and he now resides in the Chicago area.
Douglas returned to Blue Devil Gym on January 6, 2007 during the first Quincy High School
Quincy Senior High School
-History:The first school dedicated to high school students in Quincy, Illinois opened in 1891 at the corner of 12th and Maine. This "Pride of the Gem City" served students until 1933 when the "new" Quincy Senior High opened at 14th and Maine in 1933. The building sits along Historic Maine Street...
/Quincy Notre Dame High School
Quincy Notre Dame High School
Quincy Notre Dame High School is a Roman Catholic co-educational high school in Quincy, Illinois in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, serving students in grades 9-12.- History :...
boys basketball game since 1971. He was one of the honorees to sign the Illinois High School Association's Hall of Fame ball, along with another former Quincy High player, Bruce Brothers.
External links
- NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
- Bruce Douglas in the Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame