NBLC Alumni: Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson
6'6
Forward
From Chester, Pennsylvania
đ Tenure: 2016-17
2017 DPOY
The tenacious, lockdown defence that Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson played in his NBL Canada tenure made for some spectacular sights and stats for onlookers, in the end putting him among the best one-season wonders.
A state champion with Chester High, where he averaged a double-double in senior year, Hollis-Jefferson was recruited to the Temple Owls of the NCAA. He appeared in every game his first two seasons and became their starting power forward as a junior. That year he had his best averages for the Owls, 9.2 points and 6.6 rebounds, and ended his career with a fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance, reaching as far as the second round.
He first played professionally for AB Contern in Luxembourg and then thirty-six games for the Delaware 87ers in the NBA D-League. In 2016 he made the move to Canada, initially agreeing to join the Saint John Mill Rats, but instead suited up for the Orangeville A's. He made his debut for the team on Boxing Day 2016, scoring 18 points in a five-point over the KW Titans.
Days later he recorded two straight double-doubles, including a season-best 30 points and 15 total boards against the London Lightning. He followed this up with four blocks against the Titans on January 29th and, at the end of February, he had five straight twenty-point games. The A's reached the playoffs but despite a 28-point, 15-rebound performance from Jefferson in game two, the Lightning swept them in the series.
At the end of the season Hollis-Jefferson, having averaged 18.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, was named Defensive Player of the Year. Buoyed by his NBLC success at the same time his younger brother Rondae was making waves for the Brooklyn Nets, Rahlir decided to try and follow suit.
He joined the Detroit Pistons for the NBA Summer League, then played forty-eight G League games for the Arizona Suns, averaging 9.9 points before leaving for Kataja Basket in Finland. He had just a short spell with Kataja before returning to America, where he went on to play 35 games with the Memphis Hustle, averaging 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds. In 2021 he re-joined Kataja.
Hollis-Jefferson's all-around play has made him a valuable asset to every team he has suited up for and while his time in the NBL Canada was unfortunately short, he made a lasting impression on the league and its fans that will not be forgotten.
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