Illini Legend Efrem Winters Passes Away at Age 61

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Champaign News-Gazette)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Former University of Illinois basketball great Efrem Winters has died.

A McDonalds All-American out of Chicago's King High School, Winters made first team All-Big Ten in his sophomore year as he helped lead the Illini to its first Big Ten championship in 21 years and an Elite Eight appearance in 1984.

Winters finished his career as the #3 all-time leading scorer and top rebounder in school history and today ranks 15th and 4th, respectively. He missed only one game throughout his four-year Illini career and his 120 career starts was a program record that stood for nearly two decades until surpassed by Cory Bradford in 2002.

He was drafted by the NBA's Atlanta Hawks in the fourth round in 1986, but never played professional basketball.

Winters was 61 years old.

We at IlliniGuys.com send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

 

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