D. J. Jeffries

Last updated
D. J. Jeffries
DJ Jeffries.jpg
Jeffries with Mississippi State in 2023
Free agent
Position Small forward
Personal information
Born (1999-12-28) December 28, 1999 (age 24)
Olive Branch, Mississippi
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school Olive Branch
(Olive Branch, Mississippi)
College
NBA draft 2024: undrafted
Career highlights and awards

D. J. Jeffries (born December 28, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Contents

Early life and high school career

In third grade, Jeffries learned how to play basketball from his uncle at the local YMCA. He played the sport for Cordova Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee and stood 6'3 by seventh grade. Jeffries began dunking regularly by eighth grade. [1] [2] Jeffries played for Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi. As a junior, he averaged 20.8 points per game, leading his team to the Class 5A state title. [3] He was named Clarion-Ledger Player of the Year as the top player in Mississippi. [4] In his senior season, Jeffries averaged 23.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.6 blocks per game, leading Olive Branch to a Class 5A state runner-up finish while being named Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year. [5] He was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic. [2]

Recruiting

On March 12, 2018, Jeffries committed to play college basketball for Kentucky over offers from Alabama and Mississippi State, among others. [6] He decommitted from Kentucky on July 30, becoming the first Kentucky decommit under coach John Calipari. [7] Jeffries committed to Memphis on October 27. [8] By the end of his high school career, he was considered a five-star recruit by ESPN and a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals. Jeffries was the number one recruit from Mississippi in the 2019 class. [5]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
D. J. Jeffries
SF 		Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch (MS)6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg)Oct 27, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 5 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 91
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 51   247Sports: 81   ESPN: 25
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Memphis 2019 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  • "2019 Memphis Tigers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.

College career

Jeffries debuted for Memphis on November 5, 2019, recording five points, four rebounds, four assists and four blocks in a 97–64 win over South Carolina State. [9] On November 23, he scored a freshman season-high 23 points to go with four rebounds in an 87–86 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels. [10] Jeffries missed a January 4, 2020 game against Georgia with the flu. [11] On January 20, 2020, he was named American Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Week, four days after scoring 18 points in a 60–49 win over Cincinnati. [12] At practice on January 30, Jeffries partially tore his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was expected to miss four to six weeks of action. [13] On March 3, after missing nine games with the injury, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season. [14] Jeffries started in 13 of his 19 games as a freshman, averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. [5] As a sophomore, he averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, helping Memphis win the 2021 National Invitation Tournament. After the season, Jeffries transferred to Mississippi State. [15]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, on June 30, 2024, Jeffries joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2024 NBA Summer League [16] and on October 28, 2024, he signed with the Windy City Bulls. [17] However, he was waived on November 4. [18]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2019–20 Memphis 191327.1.513.390.7434.31.5.71.110.8
2020–21 Memphis 281125.6.443.352.5625.11.9.9.99.9
2021–22 Mississippi State 343128.1.423.293.7264.21.9.7.58.9
2022–23 Mississippi State 343431.2.351.272.5796.41.81.1.48.8
Career1158928.2.420.307.6385.11.8.9.79.4

Personal life

Jeffries' cousins, Chandler, Dedric and K. J. Lawson, have played basketball at the collegiate or professional levels. [19] He is the son of Shatonya and Corey Jeffries. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Wiseman</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

James Monteinez Wiseman is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. Listed at 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m), he plays the center position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Precious Achiuwa</span> Nigerian basketball player (born 1999)

Precious Ezinna Achiuwa is a Nigerian professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended high school in the United States, where he was a consensus five-star recruit and named a McDonald's All-American. Achiuwa played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, earning conference player of the year honors as a freshman in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2020. He was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft with the 20th overall pick. After his rookie year ended in Miami, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors during the 2021 offseason.

Rejean "Boogie" Ellis is an American professional basketball player for the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. He played for Memphis and USC in his college career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emoni Bates</span> American basketball player (born 2004)

Emoni James-Wayne Bates is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers and the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landers Nolley II</span> American basketball player

Landers Nolley II is an American professional basketball player for Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Memphis Tigers and the Cincinnati Bearcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Woodard II</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Robert Anthony Woodard II is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for Mississippi State.

Leroy Shaquille "Shaq" Buchanan is an American professional basketball player for Šiauliai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). He played college basketball for Murray State after transferring from Northeast Mississippi Community College.

The 2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This is the 100th season of Tiger basketball, the third under head coach Penny Hardaway, and the eighth as members of the American Athletic Conference. They play their home games at the FedEx Forum. They finished the season 20-8, 11-4 to finish in 3rd place. They defeated UCF in the quarterfinals of the AAC Tournament before losing in the semifinals to Houston. They received an invitation to the NIT where they defeated Dayton, Boise State, Colorado State, and Mississippi State to become NIT Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moussa Cissé</span> Guinean basketball player (born 2002)

Moussa Cissé is a Guinean college basketball player for the Memphis Tigers of the American Athletic Conference. He previously played for the Ole Miss Rebels of the Southeastern Conference and the Oklahoma State of the Big 12 Conference. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best centers in the 2020 class.

Keelon Lawson III is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Worcester Wolves of the British Basketball League. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, the Kansas Jayhawks, and the Tulane Green Wave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Mills (basketball)</span> American college basketball player

Caleb Demond Mills is an American college basketball player for the Memphis Tigers of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). He previously played for the Houston Cougars and the Florida State Seminoles.

Jalen Montez Duren is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. A center, he stands 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and weighs 250 pounds (113 kg). He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class. Duren was ranked as the top player in the 2022 class before reclassifying.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iverson Molinar</span> Panamanian basketball player

Iverson Latrell Molinar Jones is a Panamanian professional basketball player for the Ostioneros de Guaymas of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA). He played college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

The 2021–22 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers were led by fourth-year head coach Penny Hardaway. The team played their home games at FedExForum as members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 22–11, 13–5 in AAC Play to finish in 3rd place. They defeated UCF and SMU to advance to the championship game of the AAC tournament where they lost to Houston. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 9 seed in the West Region, where they defeated Boise State in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Gonzaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D.J. Stewart Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

DeWayne "D.J." Stewart Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Cedevita Olimpija of the Premier A Slovenian Basketball League and the Adriatic League. He played college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Daeshun Ruffin is an American college basketball player for the Jackson State Tigers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myreon Jones</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Myreon Lamar Jones Jr. is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. He played college basketball for the Penn State Nittany Lions and Florida Gators.

DeAndre Williams-Baldwin is an American professional basketball player for Sabah of the Azerbaijan Basketball League. He previously played for the Memphis Tigers of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and the Evansville Purple Aces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Akot</span> Canadian-South Sudanese basketball player (born 1999)

Emmanuel Akot is a Canadian and South Sudanese professional basketball player for Anwil Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Arizona Wildcats and the Boise State Broncos.

Joshua Robert Tyler Minott is a Jamaican-American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.

References

  1. 1 2 Giannoto, Mark (August 1, 2017). "The Prospect: D.J. Jeffries, family embrace pressure of being a top recruit". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Jason (April 18, 2019). "Memphis recruit D.J. Jeffries made it this far. He's not stopping now". The Athletic . Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  3. ↑ Miller, Brody (March 24, 2018). "Meet the 2018 Clarion Ledger All-State boys' basketball team". The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kellenberger, Hugh (May 22, 2018). "Here's who was named player of the year for every sport in Mississippi". The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "D. J. Jeffries". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  6. ↑ Rapp, Timothy (March 12, 2018). "4-Star Junior SF D.J. Jeffries Commits to Kentucky over Alabama, Mississippi St". Bleacher Report . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ Gleary, Molly (July 30, 2018). "Four-Star 2019 Wing D.J. Jeffries Decommits From Kentucky". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Hill, Drew (October 27, 2018). "Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries commits to Memphis, Penny Hardaway". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Nov 5, 2019 - South Carolina State 64 at Memphis 97". RealGM. November 5, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ Stukenborg, Phil (November 23, 2019). "No. 16 Tigers knock off unbeaten Ole Miss". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  11. ↑ Munz, Jason (January 9, 2020). "Two Tigers battling flu expected to play for Memphis basketball against Wichita State". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Jeffries is AAC Freshman of the Week". University of Memphis Athletics. January 20, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ Munz, Jason (February 1, 2020). "Memphis' D.J. Jeffries out 4-6 weeks with knee injury, according to his father". The Commercial Appeal . USA Today . Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ Munz, Jason (March 3, 2020). "Memphis freshman D.J. Jeffries will not return from knee injury this season". The Commercial Appeal . USA Today . Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  15. ↑ Coleman, Joel (April 19, 2021). "D.J. Jeffries transferring to MSU from Memphis". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  16. ↑ Castany, Tammy (July 7, 2024). "Memphis Grizzlies finalize roster for the 2024 Summer League". LocalMemphis.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Windy City Bulls Announce 2024-25 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  18. ↑ "2024-2025 Windy City Bulls Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  19. ↑ Tait, Matt (July 30, 2018). "D.J. Jeffries, Class of 2019 forward and cousin of KU's Lawson brothers, is back on the market". KUSports. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.