Hard to forget Jeff Jordan is the son of a legend
Sitting on the metal folding chair inside the Ubben Basketball Complex, Illinois freshman point guard Jeff Jordan wore the normal, everyday clothes of a college student.
<p class="MsoNormal">Shorts. T-shirt. Flip-flops. Of course, they were all from Nike's Jordan line. So there was a Jordan logo on the T-shirt, Jordan stitched on the shorts, a Jordan label on the socks and the Air Jordan logo on the sandals.
<p class="MsoNormal">Even if the world around him would let Jordan forget for a moment that he's the son of Michael Jordan -- the most popular basketball player of all time whose net worth was estimated at $398 million -- his wardrobe probably won't allow it.
<p class="MsoNormal">"It's your name there,'' Jordan said. "It's a brand. It's big, so it's not so personal. It's cool, but at the same time, it's his name.''
<p class="MsoNormal">Instead of accepting a scholarship offer from smaller programs such as Valparaiso and Loyola, Jordan enrolled at Illinois on an academic scholarship and later accepted an offer to join the Illini as a walk on.
<p class="MsoNormal">On a roster desperately seeking contributions from its guards, Jordan hopes to get playing time this winter. Illinois begins practice Friday. The season opener is Nov. 11 against Northeastern. He's not a superstar like his father, but Jeff Jordan lives his own life and wants to make his own name.
<p class="MsoNormal">"I don't wear 23,'' he said. "I'm not 6-6. Anything I do, I want to be an individual and be myself.''
<p class="MsoNormal">Jordan already has 18 years of experience at juggling the world's expectations as the oldest son of MJ. He learned at an early age that people often hide ulterior motives. Since his mother, Juanita, also lived in the giant shadow, he went with her for advice on how to handle the attention.
<p class="MsoNormal">"You get used to it,'' Jordan said. "She had to deal with it as well. Being the first one in the family and go through what you went through, it was tough. At the same time, you have to be mentally strong.
<p class="MsoNormal">"The hardest part is people's expectations. They think you'll be this or that. Even if you're really good, you'll never be him.''
<p class="MsoNormal">The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Jordan wore No. 32 at Wilmette Loyola High School and chose No. 13 in college to honor his mother's birthday. He signed his first autograph as a Highland Park eighth grader. That's about the time when the media first began writing the story about the son of Michael Jordan. Years later, Jordan already had enough of the spotlight associated with his father.
<p class="MsoNormal">"He doesn't crave the attention,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "He doesn't run around with a sign saying, 'I'm Michael Jordan's son.' It's our job to help him be a student-athlete.''
<p class="MsoNormal">He's not MJ, but JJ reminded everyone of his powerful name during an exhibition trip to Canada over Labor Day weekend. The daily newspapers and TV stations were more interested in Jordan than the rest of the Illini. Despite his rookie status with the Illini, Jordan hears students talking as they walk down the street.
<p class="MsoNormal">"Is that Jeff Jordan? Is that Michael Jordan's son?'' Illini freshman Mike Tisdale said.
<p class="MsoNormal">"I'm sure it wears on him and runs his battery down every now and then,'' said Illini senior Brian Randle. "It's not easy. They had to put him in an apartment instead of a dorm. That had to be a first.''
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, there will be the first time for everyone when it comes to a Michael Jordan moment. Players tried to act cool when briefly meeting him this summer as Jeff Jordan moved in, but there was no dinner with the team, contrary to the rumors.
<p class="MsoNormal">"He was here three hours and left,'' Jeff said.
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael hasn't yet phoned Weber during the fall semester. Most of the communication is with Juanita. Imagine MJ sitting on the aluminum bleachers near the tunnel for an Illini home game. It's a world away from the luxury box lifestyle.
<p class="MsoNormal">"He usually comes with a big group,'' Weber said. "Our place is pretty well sold out for most games. It's tough to get a section just for him. We'll have to see if he goes with the regular parents. Do we have to provide security? At AAU events, they have to rope off an area so he can enjoy the game.''
<p class="MsoNormal">Jordan speaks with his mother several times a week and talks with his father three or four times a month. Michael Jordan is part owner and general manager of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.
<p class="MsoNormal">After averaging 15 points a game as a senior last winter and finishing as a three-time Catholic League all-conference pick, Jordan was a second-team all-stater by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association last spring.
<p class="MsoNormal">Jordan relies more on atheltic ability than perimeter shooting to score. Jordan will serve as an understudy at point guard. His playing time will partly be determined by Illinois' success at shooting guard, the big question mark this season.
<p class="MsoNormal">With a 46-inch vertical leap is 7 inches better than Randle.
<p class="MsoNormal">"He gives you athleticism, quickness and great pressure on the ball,'' Weber said.
<p class="MsoNormal">"If he can be a guy who gives us some energy, then slowly but surely he starts learning how to play. With how the two guard spot comes along, we might have to experiment, play quick and small, get after people.''
<p class="MsoNormal">Even if he's nervous about that first day of practice, Jordan can slide a foot in a Nike and feel like home sweet home in his attempt to build his own name.
<p class="MsoNormal">"Adidas weren't allowed in my house,'' Jordan said. "There's only so far you can go.''
<p class="MsoNormal">Notes
<p class="MsoNormal">Randle has made progress after pulling his hamstring before the exhibition trip to Canada in September, Weber said at a news conference Tuesday. Over the past month, Randle worked on form shooting while also handling most of the preseason conditioning. … Tisdale, the former Riverton star, impressed Weber with is offense, but the concern remains with enough bulk on defense. Redshirting decisions won't come until early November after the two exhibitions. … Weber hopes to raise $30,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer with the sale of the pink T-shirts that serve as the ticket to Illini Madness Friday. Of the $7 for the shirt, $2 goes to the cancer fund. … Waukegan sophomore Jereme Richmond, who committed in November, and Peoria Central junior D.J. Richardson are expected to attend Illini Madness Friday, among other recruits.
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeff Jordan bio
<p class="MsoNormal">Birthday: Nov. 18, 1988
<p class="MsoNormal">Nickname: Lil' J
<p class="MsoNormal">Off the court: Four-year honor student at Wilmette Loyola
<p class="MsoNormal">Family: Younger brother Marcus, junior at Chicago Whitney Young; younger sister, Jasmine.
<p class="MsoNormal">Major: psychology.
<p class="MsoNormal">John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.