He was a graduate of Amundsen High School in Chicago and went on to become a two time Big Ten (then Western Conference) leading scorer in 1949 and 1950 and the Big Ten MVP in 1950 at Wisconsin. He was also a first-team All-American in 1950. Don is a charter member of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Athletic Hall of Fame, elected in 1991. He is also a member of the Illinois Public League Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He was most noted for his hook shot.
During the 1946–1947 season, Rehfeldt returned from World War II and sparked a rally against Minnesota that lead to a Big Ten Championship for the Badgers and a berth in the NCAA Elite Eight. Rehfeldt averaged 11.2 points per game as a sophomore in 1947–1948 as Wisconsin was 12–8 under Coach Bud Foster.[1] He then averaged 17.3 points and Wisconsin was 12–10 in 1948–1949.[2] As a senior in 1949–1950, Rehfeldt averaged 19.8 points, as Wisconsin finished 17–5.[3]
Rehfeldt circa 1949
Overall, Rehfeldt averaged 14.4 points in 81 games at Wisconsin, scoring 1169 career points.[4]
Upon graduation in 1950, Rehfeldt was the Badgers' all-time leading scorer and held 14 other individual records. He was the first Badger to score 1,000 points. He held the Badger record as its last All-American for 56 years until Alando Tucker was named a First Team All-American in 2007.
After graduation, Rehfeldt played in the "World Series of Basketball", which was a nationwide tour that matched College All-Americans against the Harlem Globetrotters. He was the leading scorer on that tour. His teammates included top 50 all time NBA players Paul Arizin and Bob Cousy.
In his NBA career, Rehfeldt averaged 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 69 games with the Baltimore Bullets. On November 29, 1951, he was sold by the Bullets to the Milwaukee Hawks. He averaged 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in 29 games with the Hawks.[5] Rehfeldt also signed a contract with the Boston Celtics and was in their camp for the 1952 season but did not make the final roster.
Personal life
Rehfeldt was also an avid bridge player and achieved the rank of Life Master along with his wife, Joyce.
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