LHPS Basketball

Jeff Turner
Varsity Head Coach
jturner@lhps.org

A native of Central Florida, Jeff Turner, graduated from Brandon High School in 1980. After graduation, Jeff accepted a scholarship offer to continue his playing career and work towards a degree in economics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While there, he was elected to the All SEC Academic Team in 1983 and 1984 and during his senior year, was selected as a member of the All SEC first team by the leagues coaches. After graduation, Jeff was chosen to represent the United States as a member of the 1984 Olympic Basketball Team which went on to win the gold medal at the summer games in Los Angeles, California.

During that same summer, Jeff was selected by the NBA’s New Jersey Nets with the 17th pick in the 1984 NBA draft. He spent 3 seasons with the Nets and the next two playing in the Italian Basketball League. In 1989, Jeff was signed as a free agent by the Orlando Magic for its inaugural NBA season. He played 7 seasons with the Magic before retiring in 1996. The following season, Jeff was asked to join the Magic Broadcast Team and spent the next 9 years as the team’s radio analyst.

In the spring of 2005, members of the Lake Highland community met to outline the strategic direction for the school’s future. One result was the decision to add a 4th component to the school’s mission statement dedicated to developing future leaders. Shortly thereafter, LHP President Warren Hudson asked Jeff to join his staff as a special assistant to help carry out this new commitment. Jeff’s duties include working with students at all levels to help create opportunities for leadership development.

The Turner family’s commitment to Lake Highland doesn't stop with Jeff. Jeff’s wife, Dee Dee, teaches 9th grade English in the high school and also coaches the sixth grade girls basketball team. They have two children, Allie, age 14, and Emma, age 11, who are students at LHP.