University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: USA Basketball
Accelerated Pace and Achievement Common For Jeffress Family
7/6/2020 8:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH -- Before he turned 17 years old, William Jeffress, Jr., graduated high school with honors, won a gold medal with USA Basketball, earned all-state accolades threes times and committed to play basketball in one of the country's top conference, the ACC.
Some people may think he is crazy, but that's why he did it.
"A lot of people didn't understand [me graduating early], but that's why we made the move," said Jeffress. "That's just the pace I've always been on. And coming into the ACC, being the youngest player there, just gives me the opportunity to prove myself and continue to grow as a young man, a player, a teammate and a leader."
Jeffress is used to being ahead whether it is in school or basketball. At 16 years old, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA while participating in dual enrollment in both high school and college courses. He also left McDowell High School in Erie, Pa, as the all-time leading scorer (1,673 points) and rebounder (578 rebounds) in just three seasons.
In the classroom, Jeffress was enrolled in gifted classes and was a member of the National Honor Society. On the court, he has always played two years ahead of his age group, playing 17Us on the EYBL circuit since he was 15.
"I've just always been pushed ahead," said Jeffress. "So this is just me staying on pace as to where I am in my mind and in my family's mind."
To his family, being ahead is normal, it is just what they do. Jeffress' mom, Andrea, graduated with her MD from Yale at the age of 22 and is now an OBGYN as part of the UPMC Hamot Hospital system in Erie.
Having skipped high school and left home early, she knows what Jeffress is going through and has been there to help him through the process and offer encouragement.
"She's helped me through the process by telling me, 'I'm ready,' said Jeffress. "She let me know being ahead in your life, you don't have to be scared of that, you don't have to be afraid of that and you should actually embrace it. She's always just been there to help me with my academics and cool me down after my basketball games. She understands the pace I'm moving at and she's always just been there right by my side there for me."
Also by his side, has been Jeffress' dad, William Sr. Nicknamed "Dollar Bill," William Sr. is in the University of New Haven Men's Basketball Hall of Fame and was drafted by the USBL Connecticut Skyhawks. He was also Jeffress' first coach, trainer and travel buddy. Jeffress credits his dad with helping him develop his game, but more importantly, grow as a young man.
"I probably couldn't ask for a better father," said Jeffress. "I know I couldn't ask for a better one. Not only did my mom help me on that side of the pacing and graduating early and stuff like that, but so did he. They're my one-two punch and they're always my fallback and my support system that I can always rely on."
That support system is one of the main reasons Jeffress decided to stay close to home and continue his education and basketball career at the University of Pittsburgh.
Jeffress tried to keep his recruitment as low key and secluded as possible within he and his family. But, people still talked. Once before a high school game, and before he really started to get down in his recruiting process, the opposing coach went up to him and said, "Word is that you're going to Pitt."
Jeffress asked him where he heard that. But it did not matter. After that, things started rolling.
His friends, family and community were all pushing him to go to Pitt. Every time he walked down a street or walked into a gym, he would hear the words, "Hail to Pitt" in the background.
"That really stuck with me," said Jeffress. "Part of my decision really was that there was so much support I felt like I was going to have the love that I wanted when I go to a school."
When he announced his decision on April 28, his support system was ecstatic. It meant they would be able to continue to watch the boy who played on McDowell's freshman team as a seventh and eighth grader, turn into a young man and play at the collegiate level right in their backyards.
Due to COVID-19, Jeffress was not able to finish his high school basketball career the way he wanted -- with a state championship. But, in three years, he finished as the Trojan's all-time high scorer and rebounder with 578 rebounds. He was also a three-time all-state selection and two-time District 10 Player of the Year. As a senior, Jeffress averaged 24.4 points per game and scored 20 or more points in 18 games.
He also helped Team USA to a goal medal at the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Brazil, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game. Jeffress participated in numerous USA Men's Basketball minicamps throughout his career.
The support from his friends, family and community has been evident through every step of his career, but even more since his commitment. Members of the McDowell and Erie community are buying season tickets. Three of his best friends have already planned to be at Pitt for every single home game. And he knows he can count on his family to be there as well.
He may be young, but he is ready to make his community proud. Jeffress knows this is the next step and he is ready.
"Even though you're from a small city or a small town, you can do big things," said Jeffress. "So just being able to come to Pitt…I feel like I want to forge my own path and leave my own legacy here, too."
Some people may think he is crazy, but that's why he did it.
"A lot of people didn't understand [me graduating early], but that's why we made the move," said Jeffress. "That's just the pace I've always been on. And coming into the ACC, being the youngest player there, just gives me the opportunity to prove myself and continue to grow as a young man, a player, a teammate and a leader."
Jeffress is used to being ahead whether it is in school or basketball. At 16 years old, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA while participating in dual enrollment in both high school and college courses. He also left McDowell High School in Erie, Pa, as the all-time leading scorer (1,673 points) and rebounder (578 rebounds) in just three seasons.
In the classroom, Jeffress was enrolled in gifted classes and was a member of the National Honor Society. On the court, he has always played two years ahead of his age group, playing 17Us on the EYBL circuit since he was 15.
"I've just always been pushed ahead," said Jeffress. "So this is just me staying on pace as to where I am in my mind and in my family's mind."
To his family, being ahead is normal, it is just what they do. Jeffress' mom, Andrea, graduated with her MD from Yale at the age of 22 and is now an OBGYN as part of the UPMC Hamot Hospital system in Erie.
Having skipped high school and left home early, she knows what Jeffress is going through and has been there to help him through the process and offer encouragement.
"She's helped me through the process by telling me, 'I'm ready,' said Jeffress. "She let me know being ahead in your life, you don't have to be scared of that, you don't have to be afraid of that and you should actually embrace it. She's always just been there to help me with my academics and cool me down after my basketball games. She understands the pace I'm moving at and she's always just been there right by my side there for me."
Also by his side, has been Jeffress' dad, William Sr. Nicknamed "Dollar Bill," William Sr. is in the University of New Haven Men's Basketball Hall of Fame and was drafted by the USBL Connecticut Skyhawks. He was also Jeffress' first coach, trainer and travel buddy. Jeffress credits his dad with helping him develop his game, but more importantly, grow as a young man.
"I probably couldn't ask for a better father," said Jeffress. "I know I couldn't ask for a better one. Not only did my mom help me on that side of the pacing and graduating early and stuff like that, but so did he. They're my one-two punch and they're always my fallback and my support system that I can always rely on."
That support system is one of the main reasons Jeffress decided to stay close to home and continue his education and basketball career at the University of Pittsburgh.
Jeffress tried to keep his recruitment as low key and secluded as possible within he and his family. But, people still talked. Once before a high school game, and before he really started to get down in his recruiting process, the opposing coach went up to him and said, "Word is that you're going to Pitt."
Jeffress asked him where he heard that. But it did not matter. After that, things started rolling.
His friends, family and community were all pushing him to go to Pitt. Every time he walked down a street or walked into a gym, he would hear the words, "Hail to Pitt" in the background.
"That really stuck with me," said Jeffress. "Part of my decision really was that there was so much support I felt like I was going to have the love that I wanted when I go to a school."
When he announced his decision on April 28, his support system was ecstatic. It meant they would be able to continue to watch the boy who played on McDowell's freshman team as a seventh and eighth grader, turn into a young man and play at the collegiate level right in their backyards.
Due to COVID-19, Jeffress was not able to finish his high school basketball career the way he wanted -- with a state championship. But, in three years, he finished as the Trojan's all-time high scorer and rebounder with 578 rebounds. He was also a three-time all-state selection and two-time District 10 Player of the Year. As a senior, Jeffress averaged 24.4 points per game and scored 20 or more points in 18 games.
He also helped Team USA to a goal medal at the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Brazil, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game. Jeffress participated in numerous USA Men's Basketball minicamps throughout his career.
The support from his friends, family and community has been evident through every step of his career, but even more since his commitment. Members of the McDowell and Erie community are buying season tickets. Three of his best friends have already planned to be at Pitt for every single home game. And he knows he can count on his family to be there as well.
He may be young, but he is ready to make his community proud. Jeffress knows this is the next step and he is ready.
"Even though you're from a small city or a small town, you can do big things," said Jeffress. "So just being able to come to Pitt…I feel like I want to forge my own path and leave my own legacy here, too."
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