Yardbarker: Illinois Fighting Illini

Jeff Jordan pointlessly suspended for victimless crime

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:53:59 -0500

Last year, Michael Jordan's oldest son, Jeff Jordan, decided he no longer wanted to play basketball for the Illinois Illini. This made sense at the time: Jordan's entire life had revolved around basketball, and it's clear he wasn't going to obtain (and certainly didn't need) a professional basketball career. So he decided to stop playing hoops and focus on school. Then, this fall, Jordan changed his mind. He decided to rejoin the Illini, a surprise decision that took Bruce...

MJ's son to miss two Illini games over rules flap

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:58:54 -0500

The NCAA says the oldest son of Michael Jordan will miss the first two games of the season for No. 23 Illinois after playing in an unsanctioned event last summer. Illinois coach Bruce Weber says Jeff Jordan, a reserve guard, played in a three-on-three event. Jordan wasn't part of the Illinois team at the time. The junior left the team at the end of last season but changed his mind and returned in October. Weber called Jordan's playing in the event an innocent thing.

Jeff Jordan to miss Illinois' first two games after playing in unsanctioned event

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:23:43 -0500

The NCAA says the oldest son of Michael Jordan will miss the first two games of the season for Illinois after playing in an unsanctioned event last summer.

Jeff Jordan suspended by NCAA for two games

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:01:38 -0500

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- The NCAA has ruled guard Jeff Jordan ineligible for Illinois' first two games for playing in an unsanctioned event last summer.

Weber likes what he sees in McCamey

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:42:01 -0500

McCamey and Legion's progress are key to Illinois' basketball success Illinois hoops coach Bruce Weber thinks that after two-plus years, he might have finally gotten through to Demetri McCamey, the 6-foot-3 junior who averaged 11.5 points and 4.6 assists last season.

Illinois quick facts

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:59:58 -0500

Coach: Bruce Weber, seventh year. Last season's record: 24-10. Spotlight player Alex Legion once was a big-time prospect and played the first few weeks of his college career at Kentucky. But after a year of waiting to play and finally joining the Illini in the spring semester, he made almost no impact. It's not that he'll be better than a solid vet like Demetri McCamey, but Illinois knows what to expect from McCamey. If Legion performs up to his talent level, the offense migh...

Michael Jordan's son Jeff Jordan will rejoin the Illinois basketball team

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:17:54 -0500

Junior reserve guard Jeff Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, will rejoin the Illinois team after leaving following last season to focus on school.

Junior reserve guard Jeff Jordan to rejoin Illinois

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:04:12 -0500

Junior reserve guard Jeff Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, will rejoin the Illinois team after leaving following last season to focus on school.

MJ's son to rejoin Illinois basketball team

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:37:40 -0500

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -Junior reserve guard Jeff Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, will rejoin the Illinois team after leaving following last season to focus on school.

Jordan talking about possible comeback at Illinois

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:08:01 -0500

Four months after he hung up his Air Jordans at Illinois, guard Jeff Jordan is talking to coaches about coming back.

Jordan's son talking with Illini about possible return

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:46:03 -0500

Four months after he hung up his Air Jordans at Illinois, guard Jeff Jordan is talking to coaches about coming back. Michael Jordan's oldest son left the team in June after playing for two seasons. He said then that he wanted to focus on school. Illinois spokesman Derrick Burson said Thursday that Jeff Jordan recently met with assistant coaches about a possible return. Jordan hasn't yet met with head coach Bruce Weber. Jordan walked on at Illinois before winning a scholarship...

MJ's Son Shows Courage in Leaving Illinois Basketball

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:57:00 -0500

ESPN reported today that Jeff Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan, has chosen to leave Illinois' basketball program. Jordan, originally a walk-on, was slated to receive more than the eight minutes a game he averaged in last season, his sophomore campaign.

Jeff Jordan faced enormous pressure playing basketball in the same state his father brought six NBA championships. Illinois had put him on scholarship after his freshman year, and the easy thing for Jeff would have been to take the (taxpayer) money and play out his college career.
Instead he chose to free up a scholarship and finish college as a student. Assuming there is nothing more to this story, I am impressed that Jeff had the courage to walk away despite the spotlight of his father's fame and the probably unrealistic expectations of casual fans.
I wish Jeff luck with all the tail the son of a half-billion-dollar-holding greatest-athlete-of-all-time can handle. Perhaps a transfer to USC, LSU or the College of Charleston would be best for your academic career.College of Charleston topless coeds

Seriously, Jeff, don't sleep on College of Charleston.

Jordan's son drops basketball for books at Illinois

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:25:05 -0500

Michael Jordan's son, Jeff Jordan, will not be playing basketball at Illinois next year.The second-year player who walked on with the Illini said Wednesday he plans to focus on his studies. He says he's ready for "life after basketball." "I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jordan said. "But I have come to the point where I'm ready to focus on life after basketba...

Jeff Jordan put on Scholarship by Illinois

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:39:27 -0500

Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Thursday that Jeff Jordan was on scholarship for the second semester. This is great news and a testament to the work Jordan has put in for the Illini.I'm sure being the son of Michael Jordan isn't an easy task to begin with, and turning down scholarship offers from various mid-majors to walk on at Illinois to earn a scholarship there is remarkable.Jeff said that he wasn't expecting the scholarship to come so soon, but he has been part of the Illini ...

Illini get a W in First Game Since Being Ranked

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:37:27 -0500

Assembly Hall is rocking again this year, helping the Illini to a 67-49 win against Ohio State last night and making it seven wins in a row at home for Illinois. It was another balanced attack for Illinois, led by Mike Tisdale with 15 points, Demetri McCamey with 13, and two others in double figures....

Statement Week For Illinois Basketball

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:42:50 -0500

Remember when Illinois lost a record 19 games last season? I don't. Especially after the past 8 days. Even though the team was 10-1 I was skeptical. They hadn't beaten anyone I had heard of, and the one chance they had to play someone decent (Clemson), they lost. It looked like Illinois was going to be a good defensive Big Ten team fighting for that last Big Ten NCAA berth come March...

Michael Jordan's Son Jeff Makes NCAA Debut

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:13:44 -0500

The oldest son of Michael Jordan has officially made his college debut for Illinois. After being summoned off of the bench late in the second half of a 63-55 season opening win over Northeastern at home, Jordan notched his first real college minutes. In just three of playing time the 6-1 shooting guard, who is wearing # 13, took one shot - a miss - and handled the ball a few times. His mother, Juanita, was in the stands but Mike didn't make it to the game. I can't blame MJ; after all it must be tough seeing his ex after she just recently acquired $168M from him in their divorce settlement. "It was good getting out there, breaking the ice," Jordan said after hugging his mom in the tunnel outside the Illinois locker room. "I come in with no expectations." Juanita Jordan declined to answer questions after the game, and Jeff isn't sure when his dad will see him play. Maybe at the Maui Invitational next week in Hawaii, he said. Jordan is a freshman walk-on this year for the Fighting Illini after turning down a full scholarship offer at Valparaiso. He came to Illinois from Loyola Academy, a prep school in Wilmette, which is a tiny northern suburb of Chicago. While there he was a four-year high school honor roll student, and earned an academic scholarship to attend Illinois. According to reports, Michael Jordan told "Today" host Matt Lauer that he liked his son's decision to be a small fish in a relatively big pond, rather than having him accept a scholarship and starring role at a smaller school. Younger brother Marcus Jordan is now a junior and still playing for Loyola Academy High School. No word on their sister Jasmine.

Long live Chief Illiniwek

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:25:17 -0500

Long live Chief Illiniwek....the Political Correctness Police officially took his scalp today

Illinois Scalps Illiniweck

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 22:15:01 -0500

Score one more victory for American Indian activist groups. The University of Illinois has announced that they will stop using their mascot for the last 81 years, Chief Illiniwek. Illinois joins a few other schools with Native American mascots that have been axed.