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FLAMES NOTEBOOK: Jeffers upholds family’s honor
(as published in Whoosh! magazine Nov. 7, 2005)
There had to be a really good reason to temporarily un-retire UIC jersey No. 12 – his name is Othyus Jeffers.
Not only is Jeffers (pictured) related to Miller (first cousin), he likely could be one of coach Jimmy Collins’ top five recruits during his UIC tenure.
“Othyus is just a player,” said an admiring UIC coach Collins. “He never ceases to amaze me with the things he can do. He plays the game hard all the time – and he plays with energy.
“If you can believe it, he’s more athletic than Mark and Othyus is (three inches) taller.”
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Jeffers calls himself “Batman,” because he has “to keep my people in line … keep everybody going, energized. I’m all about intensity.”
Intense would be a good word to describe Jeffers’ childhood.
Jeffers’ brother, Gerome Allen, who was 16 years old, was killed in December 1993. Allen played at Westinghouse and No. 12 was his number (Miller wore the No. 12 first in honor of Allen).
Then with Jeffers starring at Hubbard High School, he lost another brother, 24-year old Edmund Allen, in a shooting in May 2002.
In addition to playing in his late brothers’ memories, Jeffers also recently found out that older brother, Henry Allen, has cancer.
If that doesn’t build character, nothing will.
“Before, I took things for granted,” Jeffers told Chicago Tribune columnist Barry Temkin in January 2003. “Now I understand you don’t know when it’s your time to go, so why not leave something for people to remember me by?”
Jeffers was a stud at Hubbard, earning Second-Team All-State honors in his senior season and averaging 28 points and 16 rebounds per game.
After being courted by numerous schools, including UIC and Loyola, Jeffers opted to go to Los Angeles Southwest Community College.
He played one season in California, dominating the opposition as a freshman, averaging 22.3 points per game – second in the South Coast Conference (with a season-high of 36 points) – and lead the league with 10.7 rebounds per contest.
He also had averages of 2.5 assists, 0.9 blocks and 3.3 steals per game. He shot 69 percent from the field. After all that, he decided to return home.
“It’s great to be home,” Jeffers said. “I wanted to be close to my family and friends and wanted them to be able to see me play.”
Jeffers sat out last season, watching the Flames from the sidelines, but Collins believes that only made Jeffers hungrier to get into the line-up.
Collins lauds Jeffers’ ability to score inside and rebound with intensity. Jeffers said he is confident with his mid-range game (10-15 feet jumpers) and says he hopes to extend his range.
Defense is also a strong part of Jeffers’ game.
“I’m versatile. I can stick 1 to 4 on defense,” he said. “In high school I usually defended the other team’s best player … just make them work hard and get them tired.”
NEW FLAMES
Collins and UIC received two transfers as reinforcements for the 2006-07 season. Center Scott VanderMeer and guard T.J. Gray will sit out this season and wear Flames uniforms next year.
Gray starred at Julian High School before signing with Western Illinois in 2003. After two solid years with the Leathernecks, Gray will provide quality and depth at the guard spot next year.
Freshman forward Lance Young, from Rock Island Alleman, will likely redshirt the season in order to improve his conditioning and bulk for the rigors of Division I ball.
In addition, the Flames received a commitment from a high school senior from Downstate. Edwardsville guard Spencer Stewart said he will be coming to UIC next season. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound point guard averaged 9.4 points, 9.1 assists and 3.8 steals as junior for a Tigers’ team that was 25-4.
Flames on the tube
UIC games will be available in several media forms in the upcoming season.
Eight games are guaranteed to be televised this season, starting with the Dec. 10 home contest with Mississippi on Comcast SportsNet.
UIC will make two appearances on the ESPN family of networks. The Flames’ game at Loyola’s Gentile Center on Sunday, Jan. 15 will be broadcast on ESPNU, while the Flames will host their third-ever ESPN network telecast – a Feb. 4 game with Detroit at the Pavilion on ESPN2.
Other games on Comcast SportsNet include: Dec. 17 vs. Northern Illinois, Jan. 21 at Detroit, Jan. 28 vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay, Feb. 11 at Loyola and Feb. 25 vs. Wright State.
Fox Sports Net South will broadcast the Nov. 25 game at Georgia Tech. It is unclear if Fox Sports Chicago will pick up the broadcast, but it will probably be available on one of the Fox College Sports channels, which is available on Comcast digital cable.
ESPNU will broadcast the Horizon tournament semifinals and ESPN will air the championship game on March 7.
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The number worn by Flames great Mark Miller, who led UIC to its first NCAA tournament berth in school history back in 1998, is active once again.
The 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound VanderMeer (pictured), who prepped at Lake Central (Ind.) High School, played one season at Bowling Green, before deciding to move closer to home. He will become the tallest player for the Flames since 6-11 Thor Solverson (1997-2002).