D. J. Jeffries facts for kids
Jeffries with Mississippi State in 2023
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| Free agent | |
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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 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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D. J. Jeffries (born December 28, 1999) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He is currently a free agent, which means he is not signed with a team right now.
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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 the local YMCA. He played for Cordova Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee. By seventh grade, he was already 6 feet 3 inches tall! He began dunking the ball regularly by eighth grade.
Jeffries played high school basketball at Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi. As a junior, he scored about 21 points per game. He led his team to win the Class 5A state championship. This means they were the best team in their division in Mississippi. He was named the top player in Mississippi by the Clarion-Ledger newspaper.
In his senior year, Jeffries averaged 23.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. He led Olive Branch to finish as the state runner-up in Class 5A. He also won the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year award. He was chosen to play in the Jordan Brand Classic, a special game for top high school players.
Choosing a College Team
On March 12, 2018, Jeffries first decided to play college basketball for Kentucky. He had other offers from schools like Alabama and Mississippi State.
However, he later changed his mind and decided not to go to Kentucky. On October 27, he committed to play for the Memphis Tigers. By the end of his high school career, experts saw him as a top player. ESPN called him a five-star recruit, and 247Sports and Rivals called him a four-star recruit. He was considered the best basketball recruit from Mississippi in 2019.
College Basketball Career
D. J. Jeffries played his first college game for Memphis on November 5, 2019. He scored five points, grabbed four rebounds, and made four assists and four blocks. On November 23, he scored a freshman season-high of 23 points against the Ole Miss Rebels. This was the most points he scored in a single game during his first year.
In January 2020, he missed a game because he had the flu. Later that month, he was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Week. This was after he scored 18 points in a win against Cincinnati.
During practice on January 30, Jeffries injured his left knee. He was expected to miss several weeks. On March 3, he was ruled out for the rest of the season. As a freshman, he started 13 of his 19 games. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
In his second year (sophomore season), he averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He helped Memphis win the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). After this season, Jeffries transferred to Mississippi State.
Professional Career
After his college career, D. J. Jeffries was not chosen in the 2024 NBA draft. This means no NBA team picked him directly. However, on June 30, 2024, he joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2024 NBA Summer League. This is a special league where new players and free agents can show their skills. On October 28, 2024, he signed with the Windy City Bulls. But he was waived, or released, from the team on November 4.
Career Statistics
During his college career, D. J. Jeffries played 115 games. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
Personal Life
D. J. Jeffries has cousins who also played basketball at college or professionally. Their names are Chandler, Dedric, and K. J. Lawson. D. J. is the son of Shatonya and Corey Jeffries.
