Iowa Energy guard Othyus Jeffers, who ranks in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and steals, has been selected by the League’s 16 head coaches as the NBA Development League’s 2008-09 Rookie of the Year. 

“Othyus is a warrior.  He competes every night, puts winning first and foremost in his mind and refuses to be denied,” said Energy head coach Nick Nurse.  “He is absolutely deserving of the award and he gets a lot of credit in my book.  In my 19 years of coaching he is without a doubt the most competitive player I’ve ever worked with.”

In 46 games (31 starts) for Iowa, Jeffers is averaging 20.9 points on 53 percent (354-for-667) shooting from the field, to go with 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1steals, helping the Energy to a 27-22 record, good for first place in the Central Division. Jeffers, an NAIA All-America selection at Robert Morris College, also participated in this year’s NBA D-League All-Star Game in Phoenix, scoring 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field.   

Jeffers, who earned All-NBA Development League Honorable Mention honors, joins Blake Ahearn (Dakota, 2007-08), Louis Amundson (Colorado, 2006-07), Will Bynum (Roanoke 2005-06), James Thomas (Roanoke 2004-05), Desmond Penigar (Asheville, 2003-04), Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2002-03) and Fred House (Charleston, 2001-02) as winners of the annual award.

“In a season filled with talented rookie performances, Othyus' contributions to his team's success stood out,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League.  “He demonstrated all season that he is a tremendous player and a top young prospect.  With hard work and determination, he has used the NBA D-League as a platform to display his abilities to NBA scouts.  There is no doubt that Othyus has a bright future ahead of him.”

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams for the 2008-09 season.  An expansion team will begin play in Portland, Maine for the 2009-10 season, and the Anaheim Arsenal will relocate to Springfield, Mass., with a new name, logo, and team colors.  Sixty former NBA Development League players were on 2008-09 NBA start-of-season rosters, and the league continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs.  The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA.  Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

Source: NBA D-League

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