Othyus Jeffers facts for kids
Jeffers with the Washington Wizards in 2011
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 5, 1985 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2008 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2008–2016 |
| Coaching career | 2016–2019 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 2008–2009 | Iowa Energy |
| 2009 | NGC Cantù |
| 2010 | Iowa Energy |
| 2010 | Utah Jazz |
| 2010–2011 | Iowa Energy |
| 2011 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2011 | Washington Wizards |
| 2012–2014 | Iowa Energy |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2014 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2014 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters |
| 2016 | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel |
| As coach: | |
| 2016–2017 | Robert Morris (Illinois) (associate HC) |
| 2017–2019 | Robert Morris (Illinois) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Othyus Jeffers (born August 5, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the University of Illinois at Chicago and Robert Morris University. Othyus then started his professional career in the NBA D-League, which is a minor league for the NBA. He also played for three NBA teams: the Utah Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Washington Wizards. After his playing career, he became a basketball coach at Robert Morris University.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Othyus Jeffers was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up on the West Side of Chicago. His three older brothers also played basketball. Othyus often watched their games and practices.
He faced tough times growing up. Despite these challenges, he kept playing basketball. He attended Westinghouse High School before moving to Hubbard High School.
High School Achievements
At Hubbard, Othyus was a star player. In his junior year, he averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game. During his senior year, he led Hubbard to important titles. He averaged 28 points and 16 rebounds per game. He finished high school as the school's all-time leading rebounder.
College Basketball Journey
Starting at Community College
Othyus did not meet the academic requirements for a top college scholarship right away. So, he decided to attend Los Angeles Southwest College. This is a type of community college in Los Angeles. As a freshman, he played very well, averaging 22.3 points and 10.7 rebounds.
Playing for Illinois-Chicago
After one year, Othyus returned to Chicago. He transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He wanted to be close to his family. He joined the UIC Flames in 2005. He had to sit out one season to meet academic rules.
In the 2005–06 season, Othyus played in almost all games. He led the Flames in rebounds and assists. He also scored 11.6 points per game. He was named the Horizon League Newcomer of The Year. The next season, he played even better. He averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. He was named to the All-Horizon League First Team.
A Difficult Incident
After his junior season, Othyus was injured in an incident. He was trying to help his sister during a dispute. He was shot in the leg, and his sister was also injured. Luckily, Othyus's injury was not severe. He left the hospital quickly and started playing basketball again in less than a month. This showed his strong determination.
Finishing at Robert Morris University
After the incident and some disagreements with his coach, Othyus transferred again. He moved to Robert Morris University. This school was part of the NAIA, a different college sports organization. This meant he could play right away.
He finished his college career strongly. He averaged 24.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He led the Robert Morris Eagles to a championship. He was named the CCAC Player of the Year. He also helped his team reach the Final Four in the 2007 NAIA Basketball Tournament.
Professional Basketball Career
Starting with Iowa Energy (2008–2009)
After college, Othyus was eligible for the 2008 NBA draft but was not picked. He then signed with the NBA Development League (D-League). In November 2008, the Iowa Energy selected him. He quickly became a key player.
In February 2009, he was chosen for the D-League All-Star Game. He scored 14 points in the game. He finished the season averaging 20.6 points and 8.8 rebounds. He was named the Rookie of the Year.
Playing Overseas in Italy (2009)
After his first D-League season, Othyus played in the NBA Summer League. He then decided to play overseas in Italy. He joined NGC Cantù for a short time. He played 10 games before returning to the D-League.
First NBA Experience with Utah Jazz (2010)
In January 2010, Othyus rejoined the Iowa Energy. His strong play earned him a chance in the NBA. On March 3, 2010, the Utah Jazz signed him to a 10-day contract. He made his NBA debut on March 6, 2010. He played 10 games with the Jazz that season.
Back to the D-League and More NBA Chances (2010–2011)
Othyus returned to the Iowa Energy for the 2010–11 season. He continued to be a top player, leading the league in scoring. He was selected for his second D-League All-Star Game.
His excellent performance led to more NBA opportunities. He signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs in March 2011. After one game, he returned to the Energy. Soon after, the Washington Wizards signed him. He played 16 games for the Wizards. He even had his first "double-double" (scoring double digits in two categories) with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Injury and Return (2011–2014)
After the 2010–11 season, Othyus suffered a serious knee injury. This meant he missed the entire 2011–12 season.
In September 2012, he tried out for the Phoenix Suns but was waived. He then returned to the Iowa Energy for his fourth time. He continued to play well. In 2013, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the Summer League. He later signed with them for training camp but was waived before the season started.
In November 2013, he rejoined the Iowa Energy. In January 2014, he signed another 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He was later waived.
NBA D-League MVP (2014)
On April 8, 2014, Othyus signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the rest of the season. On April 24, 2014, he was named co-MVP of the NBA D-League for the 2013–14 season. This was a huge achievement, showing he was one of the best players in the league.
Playing in the Philippines (2014, 2016)
In May 2014, Othyus played for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippines. He had an amazing game, scoring 38 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. He later played for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2016.
Life After Playing Basketball
In December 2016, Othyus Jeffers returned to Robert Morris University. This time, he became an associate head coach for the basketball team. From 2017 to 2019, he served as the head coach.
Images for kids
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Jeffers with the Washington Wizards in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Othyus Jeffers para niños
