After months of hype and speculation, local high school basketball star Amile Jefferson finally announced his decision regarding the University he will play for next year.
Friends, family and media gathered inside a gym at 4 p.m. today at Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood, where Jefferson led his team to two league championships. Joined by his parents and coach, the 6-foot-8 senior stated the following:
Good afternoon everyone. I’d like to thank everyone for coming out today and supporting me in making my decision. I’d also like to thank my coaches, my family, Friends’ Central, the community and everyone who came out here today for helping me get to this point. Today, for me, is the culmination of a long process, one where I got to learn about different schools and explore the opportunities that each and every one of them had. For that privilege I would like to thank all the universities. I would like to thank the coaching staffs of all the schools for recruiting me and sticking with me through and through. This has been a really tough decision for me and at the end of the day I made this decision based on my future on and off the court. I think Friends’ Central has prepared me greatly for the next step in my life and without further ado I’m proud to say that I will be attending Duke University.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Jefferson made the announcement. Today’s press conference was the end of a long journey for the talented player. Jefferson was the last top 25 men’s basketball recruit in the 2012 class to announce which school he’d attend. Other schools that experts speculated Jefferson would play for included North Carolina State, Kentucky and Villanova. Yet while Jefferson acknowledged he would have loved to play for all the schools on his radar, it was the educational opportunities at Duke that set the school apart. “At the end of the day Duke is a school that values education and academics, which is something that I also value within myself,” said Jefferson. “I think I’ll be able to build my character while also playing for a great team. It just sounds like a special combination.”
Amile signs letter of intent to Duke.
Jefferson also spoke about how excited he is to play for the legendary Coach K.
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“To step in the footsteps of all those great players who have played for Coach K and to play for him at this time in his career would be amazing,” said Jefferson. “To go down there and to really start a new path would be great for me. The relationship I’ve been able to build with him has been amazing. Now I’m ready to get down there and look him in the face at practice, get the energy that he gives me and give it back to him.”
Jefferson’s decision was a surprise to everyone, even his mother Quetta Jefferson and his coach Jason Polykoff.
“I found out along with everyone else where Amile was going,” said Coach Polykoff. “I had an idea of course but he did a terrific job keeping it under wraps. When I found out along with you guys I guess I was just as happy and shocked and excited for him as everybody else was.”
“I actually just found out a few minutes ago,” said Amile’s mom. “I had no idea he was going to choose Duke.”
In spite of their surprise, they both wholeheartedly support Amile’s decision.
“I love Duke,” said his mother. “I love all the schools so there was no wrong choice but Duke is where he belongs. Not only the athletics but academically he belongs there. They are definitely going to take him to the next level.”
“I’m extremely excited for him. Pretty much no matter where he would’ve chosen I would’ve been excited but for me, I look at Duke and I compare it to Friends Central,” said Coach Polykoff. “The combination of athletics and the basketball program we have here with academics parallels that with Duke. I think he’s going to step on campus and they’re going to love him right away. I think he’s going to make an impact right away and I think he’s going to do great academically as well.”
In addition to leading his school to two Friends’ Schools league championships during his high school career, Jefferson averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game last season. He finished his career with more than 1500 points and 800 blocks, was selected as a three-time all-state player, was a two-time Pennsylvania Player of the year, was named a McDonald’s All-American and was a second-team All-USA selection.
“We’re going to sorely miss Amile,” said Coach Polykoff. “But we’ve got some great guys coming back, guys that aided Amile this year in regard to our success.”
In addition to his outstanding high school basketball career, Amile also frequently gave back to his community and was heavily involved in the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia.
“I always told him to give back,” said his mom. “Whatever you do in life you have to give back regardless of how small or how large it is, you have to give back to your community, to everybody. You have to show the world that you care.”
Those who know Amile also say that despite his early fame, the star athlete has remained humble and friendly, on and off the court. Coach Polykoff says that it’s Jefferson’s character that will remain his lasting legacy at Friends’ Central.
“We’re going to remember him as a great basketball player,” said Coach Polykoff. “But I think the thing that everyone will remember is what a great person he is. From the teachers, to the staff to the coaches, he’s left a mark on everybody here. Not just because he can put the ball in the hoop. He’s a humble kid, he’s a sweet kid and I think that’s the legacy he’ll leave and I think that’s actually the legacy he’ll leave at Duke as well.”
