D. J. Jeffries facts for kids
Jeffries with Mississippi State in 2023
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| No. 3 – Raptors 905 | |
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| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 28, 1999 Olive Branch, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Olive Branch (Olive Branch, Mississippi) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2024 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2024–present |
| League | NBA G League |
| Career history | |
| 2025–present | Raptors 905 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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D. J. Jeffries, born on December 28, 1999, is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for Raptors 905 in the NBA G League. Before becoming a professional, he played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
D. J. Jeffries started playing basketball in third grade. His uncle taught him the game at a local YMCA. By seventh grade, he was already 6 feet 3 inches tall. He began dunking the ball regularly in eighth grade!
Jeffries played high school basketball for Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi.
- As a junior, he scored an average of 20.8 points per game. He led his team to win the Class 5A state championship.
- He was named the Clarion-Ledger Player of the Year, which means he was recognized as the best player in Mississippi.
- In his senior year, Jeffries averaged 23.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. His team finished as the Class 5A state runner-up.
- He also won the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year award.
- After high school, he was chosen to play in the Jordan Brand Classic, a special game for top high school players.
Choosing a College Team
After high school, D. J. Jeffries was a highly sought-after player.
- He first decided to play college basketball for Kentucky in March 2018.
- However, he later changed his mind in July.
- In October, he committed to play for the Memphis Tigers.
- Experts like ESPN called him a "five-star recruit," meaning he was one of the very best players in his age group. Other services like 247Sports and Rivals called him a "four-star recruit."
- He was considered the top basketball recruit from Mississippi in 2019.
College Basketball Career
D. J. Jeffries started his college career with the Memphis Tigers.
- He played his first game on November 5, 2019.
- On November 23, he scored a freshman-high 23 points in a close win against the Ole Miss Rebels.
- In January 2020, he was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Week.
- Later that season, he had a knee injury that made him miss several games.
- As a freshman, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
- In his second year at Memphis, he averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He helped his team win the 2021 National Invitation Tournament, which is a big college basketball championship.
- After two seasons with Memphis, Jeffries decided to transfer to Mississippi State to continue his college career.
Professional Basketball Journey
After finishing his college career, D. J. Jeffries was not chosen in the 2024 NBA draft. However, he still got a chance to play professionally.
- In June 2024, he joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2024 NBA Summer League. This is a special league where new players and young players get to show their skills.
- On October 28, 2024, he signed with the Windy City Bulls.
- He was later waived by the Bulls on November 4.
- He now plays for Raptors 905 in the NBA G League, which is a development league for the NBA.
Career Statistics in College
Here's a look at D. J. Jeffries' college statistics:
- 2019–20 (Memphis): Played 19 games, averaged 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
- 2020–21 (Memphis): Played 28 games, averaged 9.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.9 blocks per game.
- 2021–22 (Mississippi State): Played 34 games, averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.5 blocks per game.
- 2022–23 (Mississippi State): Played 34 games, averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.4 blocks per game.
Overall in his college career, he played 115 games, averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Personal Life
D. J. Jeffries comes from a family of basketball players. His cousins, Chandler, Dedric, and K. J. Lawson, have also played basketball at college or professional levels. His parents are Shatonya and Corey Jeffries.
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