Damien Jefferson Explained

Damien Jefferson
Position:Small forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lbs:220
League:Basketbol Süper Ligi
Team:Pınar Karşıyaka
Birth Date:3 October 1997
Birth Place:East Chicago, Indiana
Nationality:American
High School:Central
(East Chicago, Indiana)
College:
Draftyear:2021
Career Start:2021
Years1:2021–2022
Team1:Stockton Kings
Years2:2022–2023
Team2:Memphis Hustle
Years3:2023–2024
Team3:Filou Oostende
Years4:2024–present
Team4:Pınar Karşıyaka
Highlights:

Damien Jefferson (born October 3, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos and the Creighton Bluejays.

High school career

Jefferson attended Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana. As a senior, he averaged 26.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and was named The Times of Northwest Indiana Player of the Year.[1] Jefferson led his team to a Class 4A sectional title and was named an Indiana All-Star.[2] He committed to playing college basketball for New Mexico, his father's alma mater.[3]

College career

Jefferson averaged 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds as a freshman at New Mexico. For his sophomore season, he transferred to Creighton and sat out for one year due to transfer rules.[4] As a sophomore, Jefferson averaged 6.2 points and four rebounds per game before his season was cut short due to an high ankle sprain injury. [5] In his junior season, he averaged 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Jefferson declared for the 2020 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to college.[6] On December 17, 2020, he flirted with a triple-double, recording 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 94–76 win over St. John's.[7] As a senior, Jefferson earned Second Team All-Big East honors.[8] He averaged 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Jefferson declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing an additional season of eligibility the NCAA granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Professional career

Jefferson joined the Sacramento Kings for the 2021 NBA Summer League, winning a summer league championship.[10] He joined the Stockton Kings as an affiliate player on October 25, 2021,[11] but was later waived on January 29, 2022. He was acquired by the Memphis Hustle on February 14.[12]

On July 31, 2023, Jefferson signed with Filou Oostende of the BNXT League.[13]

On August 11, 2024, he signed with Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[14]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| New Mexico| 29 || 6 || 15.1 || .438 || .214 || .490 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .4 || .1 || 5.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Creighton| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| Redshirt|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Creighton| 26 || 16 || 18.0 || .535 || .412 || .634 || 4.0 || .8 || .4 || .1 || 6.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Creighton| 30 || 29 || 27.1 || .533 || .217 || .635 || 5.5 || 1.4 || .6 || .2 || 9.4|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Creighton| 31 || 31 || 30.9 || .512 || .348 || .605 || 5.4 || 2.4 || 1.2 || .3 || 11.9|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 116 || 82 || 23.0 || .509 || .304 || .592 || 4.4 || 1.4 || .7 || .2 || 8.3

Personal life

Jefferson's father, Everette, played college basketball at New Mexico.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hanlon . Steve . Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Damien Jefferson, E.C. Central . . March 23, 2021 . March 31, 2016.
  2. Web site: Boyd . James . EC Central grad, Creighton forward Damien Jefferson declares for NBA Draft . . March 23, 2021 . April 30, 2020.
  3. Web site: Hanlon . Steve . E.C. Central's Damien Jefferson visits New Mexico, verbally commits to play for the Lobos . . March 23, 2021 . September 21, 2015.
  4. Web site: Nyatawa . Jon . Former New Mexico guard Damien Jefferson announces he'll transfer to Creighton . . March 23, 2021 . June 22, 2017.
  5. Web site: Damien Jefferson – 2020-21 – Men's Basketball . Creighton University Athletics . March 23, 2021.
  6. Web site: Ferguson . Aaron . East Chicago's Damien Jefferson withdraws from NBA Draft, returns to Creighton . . March 23, 2021 . August 1, 2020.
  7. Web site: DeMarinis . Matt . Damien Jefferson is proving that he doesn’t need a spotlight in order to shine . White & Blue Review . March 23, 2021 . December 18, 2020.
  8. Web site: Nyatawa . Jon . Creighton's Marcus Zegarowski, Damien Jefferson and Denzel Mahoney earn Big East honors . . March 23, 2021 . March 7, 2021.
  9. Web site: Goodman . Jeff . Stadium’s 2021 NBA Draft Entry Tracker . WatchStadium.com . October 8, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
  10. Web site: Sam. Westrick. Damien Jefferson is NBA Summer League Champion. 247Sports.com. August 18, 2021. October 8, 2021.
  11. Web site: Stockton Kings Announce 2021-22 Training Camp Roster. NBA.com. October 25, 2021. November 2, 2021.
  12. Web site: 2021-22 NBA G League Transactions. NBA.com. February 14, 2022. February 15, 2022.
  13. Web site: NEW PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT. BCOostende.be. July 31, 2023. July 31, 2023.
  14. KSKBasket . 1819013125158371402 . Damien Jefferson Pınar Karşıyaka’mızda!.
  15. Web site: Tate . Van . Lobos’ Damien Jefferson has a big smile and big game . . March 23, 2021 . October 24, 2016.