From the N-G
Efrem Winters, who helped the Illinois basketball program return to relevance in the 1980s, has died.
A member of the 1983-84 Illini who won the school's first Big Ten title in 21 seasons, was 61. He was retired after working for Pepper Construction Company and living in Aurora.
Winters was first-team All-Big Ten in 1984 on a team that fell just short of reaching the Final Four.
A McDonald's All-American at Chicago King, he was part of a freshman class in 1982-83 — joining Bruce Douglas, Doug Altenberger, Scott Meents and Reggie Woodward — that triggered a decade-long run of success under coach Lou Henson.
A durable four-year starter known for completing alley-oops, Winters ended his Illini career as the school's all-time rebounding leader (853) and No. 3 scorer. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
Efrem Winters, who helped the Illinois basketball program return to relevance in the 1980s, has died.
A member of the 1983-84 Illini who won the school's first Big Ten title in 21 seasons, was 61. He was retired after working for Pepper Construction Company and living in Aurora.
Winters was first-team All-Big Ten in 1984 on a team that fell just short of reaching the Final Four.
A McDonald's All-American at Chicago King, he was part of a freshman class in 1982-83 — joining Bruce Douglas, Doug Altenberger, Scott Meents and Reggie Woodward — that triggered a decade-long run of success under coach Lou Henson.
A durable four-year starter known for completing alley-oops, Winters ended his Illini career as the school's all-time rebounding leader (853) and No. 3 scorer. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
