"The Peach Fuzz Five"
Larry Jeffries came to Trinity University at the tender age of 15, and his youth would define his early years as a Tiger[1]. Despite such an age difference, his talent immediately wowed the Trinity staff, earning him a starting position as a freshman. Listed at 6 ft 3 in, Jeffries possessed great size for a guard, and his high skill level placed him head and shoulders above the competition. Before the season began, Jeffries and his teammates would venture out to Lackland Air Base in south San Antonio to play against men stationed there. These games provided valuable experience to the young crop of talent, and also a measuring stick for Larry to see himself within a bigger setting. Growing up in Alton, Illinois, Jeffries knew his talent was special, but wasn’t sure to what scale. Playing in San Antonio against grown men gave him the confidence to go on to be one of the greatest players in the history of the Southland Conference[2]. An article from the Trinitonian issue of March 25th, 1966 indicates that Jeffries was the only freshman to make first-team all conference in 1966, a measure of the instant impact he had on the team. Making the all-conference team at the usual freshman age of 18 is impressive; making it at 16 is truly remarkable.
Jeffries’ youth was not unique on his team, however. Dubbed the “Peach Fuzz Five” by the Beaumont Enterprise (Lammert 1968), the starting lineup consisted of four freshmen and one sophomore, and took the conference by storm. The “Peach Fuzz Five” revitalized basketball at Trinity, with the Trinitonian going so far as to say, “there was once a time when snow and a Trinity basketball victory were both a rarity in San Antonio” (Baker, 1966). New Head Coach Bob Polk’s squad won 12 wins their first year, and compiled a record of 69 wins and 28 losses for the entirety of Jeffries’ career. Jeffries led the team in both points and rebounds his freshman campaign, tallying 19.9ppg and 11.4rpg, good for second and third in the Southland Conference respectively.