Chambana Sun

To fans of the Fighting Illini in the 1980s, Efrem Winters was a key figure on the basketball court. Known for his impressive slam dunks following lob passes from Bruce Douglas, Winters became a favorite among supporters. The former Illinois basketball player passed away on Monday at 61 after battling an illness for several years.

Winters was instrumental in bringing Illinois Basketball back to national prominence. A McDonald's All-American from Chicago King High School, he joined a notable recruiting class in 1982 that included players like Bruce Douglas and Doug Altenberger. This group laid the foundation for future successes under Coach Lou Henson.

During his time with the Illini from 1983 to 1986, Winters started in 120 games—a record that stood until 2002. Under his influence, Illinois achieved a record of 95-35 (.731), including four consecutive seasons with over 20 wins and appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In his sophomore year, he earned first-team all-conference honors as Illinois won the Big Ten championship and reached the Elite Eight.

Winters concluded his college career as Illinois' all-time leading rebounder and third-highest scorer, amassing 853 rebounds and scoring 1,487 points. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth round of the 1986 NBA Draft.

After retiring from professional sports, Winters worked for Pepper Construction Company and resided in Aurora. Information regarding any services was not available at this time.