When it comes to basketball, Pitt freshman William Jeffress Jr. typically played with athletes who were a year or two older.
When it comes to academics, Jeffress was enrolled in college courses while at McDowell High School in Erie, Pa., and the National Honor Society member excelled in them.
So when it came time to make a decision on where to play college basketball, Jeffress knew Pitt offered him the perfect combination of athletics and academics at a place not far from home.
Nevermind he just turned 17 years old about three weeks before arriving on campus in late June. Jeffress knew he was ready. So rather than stay at McDowell and graduate in 2021, he opted to reclassify to the Class of 2020 and thus became a key figure in the most heralded group the Panthers have landed in years.
"What better way to get better than to join a college campus with college-level training," Jeffress said Wednesday night during the team's IG (Instagram) Live Takeover, hosted by assistant director of operations and former Pitt guard Ronald Ramon. "Being around that type of atmosphere, having your own nutritionist and stuff like that and being in an environment where you can be focused."
For Jeffress and fellow freshmen John Hugley, Femi Odukale, Max Amadasun and Noah Collier, the current focus is on getting acclimated to college-level workouts.
They arrived on campus June 28, began a two-week quarantine a day later, then went through small-group workouts with the strength and conditioning staff before finally getting on the court as a team Monday at Petersen Events Center with head coach Jeff Capel and his staff watching from an acceptable distance.
Stay ready. #ZooEra pic.twitter.com/Hl2iTbLo1m
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) July 20, 2020
The freshmen group, along with transfer guard Ithiel Horton (Delaware), makes up the most hyped Pitt recruiting class in some time. Rivals ranked the group 21st nationally, with the April addition of the four-star Jeffress offering a huge lift. That group could get a further boost if guard Nike Sibande, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), is granted a waiver and becomes eligible for the 2020-21 season.
Jeffress' commitment video sent Pitt fans into a frenzy, instantly catapulting him into fan favorite status. (If you haven't watch it, click on the link below.)
Commitment Video: Thank you to everyone who has supported me along this journey❤️Click the link to watch. https://t.co/8zZrpqZXrS pic.twitter.com/Y2ltPscwRL
— William Jeffress (@williamjeffress) April 28, 2020
But what can the 6-foot-7 swing player bring to this year's group, which returns starters Xavier Johnson, Au'Diese Toney, Justin Champagnie and Terrell Brown plus key contributors Gerald Drumgoole and Abdoul Karim Couilbaly?
"Honestly, I feel like I can help in every way possible. I feel like I have all the tools," Jeffress said. "If you need a good teammate. Even though I'm young, if you need a leader or if you need a guy to bring people together. (I can) put the ball in the basket, set my teammates up, rebound, box out, take some charges. I do it all. So anything that I can bring to the table for us to secure a win and get to the tournament, try to push our way through. I mean, I'm ready for it. I'm willing to do it."
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