Thomas Jeffery, also known as TJ, is a business major who plays basketball for the Morningside Mustangs. Being a big-time recruit for football you would think he would have chosen that as his calling for college. However, his love was for basketball, and wanted to take one of the few scholarship offers.
TJ is from Algona, Iowa, and went to Bishop Garrigan where he threw shot put, played basketball and football.
He has one brother who is older than him that went to Iowa, who continues to give him good advice throughout his college years.
His mom and dad are both big influences in the community of Algona due to his dad being a gym teacher at the high school and his mom being the coach of the Bishop Garrigan girls’ volleyball team. TJ gets all of his athletic ability from his mom who was a D1 women’s volleyball player at Drake.
Tj said he picked Morningside based on the family-like atmosphere that provided him with an at-home feeling.
He is not sure what he wants to do when he is older but would love to do something that includes sports.
Although TJ is not very talkative for people he doesn’t know, once you have the pleasure of knowing him, he is a non-stop talker. Zach Martinek said, “Sometimes that man can’t be quiet, which is amazing to see cause some people can barely get a peep out of him.”
TJ is a person who needs time to get to know you and will do anything when he puts a constant trust in your life.
He is also a huge lover other than a fighter. TJ would rather make amends with you and show that he cares, rather than hold a grudge and never want to get on to speaking terms.
TJ’s girlfriend, Mckenna Sims said, “TJ is such a sweetheart and will do anything for me to feel good about myself and make sure that I am taken care of. I love him so much and his heart deserves the world.”
Lastly, Tj had the ability to make an impact on youth sports, where he is coaching 6th-grade boy basketball. He can make an impact on the youth and show them the skills he has learned from his own experiences where he has the ability to play college basketball.
James Maher said, “Tj does such a good job implementing what he has learned and providing good examples for our kids. I am excited to see where this season leads us to and how the kids will show improvement.”