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Al Jefferson Biography |
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Position: PF
Born: 1/04/85
Height: 6-10
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Weight: 265 lbs.
High School: Prentiss (MS) |
Al Jefferson was born January 4, 1985 in Monticello, Mississippi and attended Prentiss High School in Prentiss, Mississippi. As a senior, he was named to the 2004 McDonald's All-American Team, and was a finalist for the Naismith Award, after he averaged 42 points, 16 rebounds and 9 blocks per game during the season. Jefferson originally committed to the University of Arkansas, but decided to forego college for the NBA Draft.
Al Jefferson was drafted out of high school with the 15th pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA Draft, becoming the first high school player to be drafted by the Celtics (Kendrick Perkins was drafted by the Grizzlies,
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then traded to Boston on draft day in the 2003 NBA Draft). Jefferson showed great potential during his rookie season averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game. Early consensus on Jefferson was that he was a huge steal with the 15th pick. His performance in his rookie season was solid for a "preps to pros" rookie and many believe that within a few years he will be one of the best power forwards in the game. Jefferson was selected to the NBA Rookie All-Star Game and selected to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team.
During Jefferson's second season he suffered a series of ankle injuries and On August 2, 2006, he underwent ankle surgery to remove bone spurs limiting him to playing in only 59 games. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game during his sophomore season.
Though Jefferson put up decent numbers during his first two seasons in Boston, he dedicated himself to his conditioning during the summer prior to his third season hiring a personal chef and losing 30 pounds. On November 8, 2006 prior to the fourth game of the season, Al Jefferson had appendectomy surgery and missed seven games making people question whether he would be able to stay healthy. But Jefferson exploded onto the NBA scene during his third year having a dramatic rise in his play and numbers. Jefferson averaged 16.0 ppg, 11 rpg and 1.54 bpg, dominating in the paint with an array of low-post moves and aggressive play on the glass and recording 38 double-doubles. On March 3, 2007, Jefferson scored a career high 32 points to go along with 18 rebounds against the New Jersey Nets, who Jefferson had previously set his career high in points against earlier in the season. On March 5, 2007, Jefferson was named the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
On July 31, 2007 Jefferson considered the key component was traded along with Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and two first round draft picks, to the Minnesota for Kevin Garnett.
During his first year with the Timberwolves, Jefferson is on of five players averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds, scoring 20.1 ppg and grabbing 11.3 rbg. Jefferson became only the second player in Timberwolves history along with Garnett to recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game. On Dec. 9, 2007 against the Suns, he scored a career high 32 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and recorded 4 steals in a 100-93 win. |
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Al Jefferson Career Achievements |
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Prentiss High School
• Attended the Prentiss HS in Prentiss, Mississippi from 2000-2004.
• Named MVP of the AAU 16-under championships in 2002.
• Named 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team Class 3A All-State in Mississippi in 2003.
• Led Prentiss HS to the Mississippi Class 3A South State championship in 2004.
• Selected to the McDonald's All-America Game in 2004.
• Named to the 2004 USA Basketball Junior National Select team.
• Named Mississippi Mr. Basketball in 2004.
• Scored 42 ppg. and averaged 16 rpg. as a senior.
• Finalist for the 2004 Naismith Award.
• Named all-state, all conference and conference MVP as a junior, where his team finished 29-8
and took home the Class 3A State Championship.
• Named all-state, all-conference and conference MVP as a freshmen.
• Named all-state, all-conference and conference MVP as a sophomore.
• Attended 2003 Nike All-America Camp.
• Attended 2002 NBA Players Association Camp.
• Earned 2002 NBA Players Association Camp All Star Game MVP honors.
USA Basketball
• Selected to the 2004 USA Men's Junior National Select Team that beat the World Select Team
99-79 at the seventh Hoop Summit.
• Scored 13 points (5-11 FGs), grabbed five offensive boards and totaled seven rebounds overall
in the win.
• Participated in 2003 USA Basketball Junior National Team Trials.
• Was selected to the 2007 scrimmage team of up-and-comers to scrimmage in Las Vegas against
the United States national team for the Olympic qualifier.
Boston Celtics
• Selected by the Celtics as 15th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
• Selected to the NBA Rookie All-Star Game in 2005.
• Selected to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team in 2004-05.
• Jefferson was named the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week on March 5, 2007.
• Grabbed a career high 22 rebounds against Detroit on Jan. 13,2007.
• Jefferson's first 20 point game came on Dec. 10, 2005 against Dallas when he scored 21 points.
• Scored a career high 32 points against New Jersey on March 3, 2007.
Minnesota Timberwolves
• Traded to the Timberwolves on July 31, 2007 for Kevin Garnett.
• Is currently averaging a Double-Double, scoring 20.1 ppg and grabbing 11.3 rbg.
• One of only 5 players in the NBA averaging 20 ppg and 10 rbg.
• Scored a season high and tied his career high of 32 points against the Suns in a 100-93 win on
Dec. 8, 2007.
• Grabbed a season high 20 rebounds against the Suns on Dec. 8, 2007.
• On Dec. 8, 2007 Jefferson joined Kevin Garnett as the only players in Minnesota history to record
30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game.
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