Jeff Jordan given OK to transfer from Illinois

Jordan Jr. leaving Illinois to transfer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Jeff Jordan’s on-again, off-again basketball career at Illinois ended Friday when the school granted the reserve guard clearance to transfer.

It isn’t clear where Michael Jordan’s eldest son is headed. He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press and Illinois spokesman Derrick Burson said school officials don’t know Jeff Jordan’s plans.

Illinois coach Bruce Weber called Jordan “an important part of our team.”

Jordan was “a competitor who provided depth and steady play at the point guard position and was a defensive presence for us,” Weber said in a printed statement. “We thank him for all the hard work and effort he gave to our program.

It isn’t clear whether Jordan intends to play what would be his senior season at another school, but the release from Illinois is required by the NCAA if a student wants to leave to play at another school. A player could transfer without the release if he didn’t want to play.

Jordan, a defense-first bench player, left the Illini last June but changed his mind in October and rejoined the team for his junior season. He averaged 13.8 minutes and 1.6 points a game last season as Illinois finished 21-15 and wound up in the NIT.

In all, the 6-1 Jordan appeared in 92 career games at Illinois — averaging 9.5 minutes and 1.2 points a game — after coming from Loyola Academy in Highland Park, Ill. He walked on before earning a scholarship.

Jordan’s younger brother, Marcus, plays for Central Florida.