Editing Don Nelson (section)

==Early life==
Donald Arvid Nelson was born on May 15, 1940, in [[Muskegon, Michigan]], to Arvid and Agnes Nelson. Nelson grew up with his family and two sisters on his grandfather's rural Illinois farm near [[Sherrard, Illinois]]. He first learned basketball shooting in the chicken yard where a spokeless bicycle wheel was nailed to the shed to make a basket. Nelson attended a one-room, six-grade, seven-student school. When his family lost the farm, the Nelsons moved to nearby [[Rock Island, Illinois]], while Don was in middle school. His father Arvid eventually worked at the [[Rock Island Arsenal]].<ref name="mercurynews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/02/10/trying-season-makes-golden-state-warriors-coach-don-nelson-feels-even-older-at-69/|title = Trying season makes Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson feels even older at 69|date = 10 February 2010}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">03/02/2003, BRAD TOWNSEND, The Dallas Morning News</ref>

Nelson attended [[Rock Island High School]], in Rock Island, one of the [[Quad Cities]]. The Nelsons lived in downtown Rock Island on 19th street and Don would walk to school, stopping to shoot baskets at several different locations along the way. Nelson would go to the YMCA after practice and shoot more.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/rock-island-grad-nelson-surprises-old-friends-with-nba-record/article_c979b702-41f9-11df-9e4a-001cc4c03286.html|title=Rock Island grad Nelson surprises old friends with NBA record run|first=Don|last=Doxsie|website=The Quad-City Times|date=7 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/college/big-10/iowa/rocky-s-nelson-to-get-iowa-degree-after-years/article_b80896ba-9732-11e1-995c-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Rocky's Nelson to get Iowa degree after 50 years|date=6 May 2012 }}</ref>

Graduating in 1958, Nelson led the Rocks to a 47–7 record in his last two years under coach Bob Riley. He had 39 points and 20 rebounds against [[Moline High School]] and 30 points and 29 rebounds against No. 1-ranked [[Ottawa Township High School|Ottawa High School]]. As a junior, Nelson averaged 12.6 points as Rock Island finished 25–3. As a senior, Nelson averaged 20.2 points, leading the Rocks to a 22–4 record in 1957–58.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/don-nelson-s-basketball-career-highlights/article_8274d9f2-9735-11e1-b591-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Don Nelson's basketball career highlights|website=The Quad-City Times|date=5 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://athletics.rimsd41.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=858090&type=d&pREC_ID=1221398|title=YEAR BY YEAR SEASON RECORDS – Boys' Basketball – Rock Island - Milan Athletics|website=athletics.rimsd41.org}}</ref>

After his senior year in high school, Nelson wasn't heavily recruited. His father did not see a future for Don in basketball and wanted him to become a watch repairman. [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|University of Iowa]] Coach [[Sharm Scheuerman]], who had graduated from Rock Island in 1952, recruited Nelson, who ultimately chose the Hawkeyes over [[Wheaton College (Illinois)|Wheaton College]] and Nelson's hometown [[Augustana College (Illinois)|Augustana College]].<ref name="desmoinesregister.com">{{cite web|url=http://data.desmoinesregister.com/hall-of-fame/single.php?id=469|title=Register Sports Hall of Fame Database - Don Nelson - DesMoinesRegister.com|website=data.desmoinesregister.com}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/>