A day of celebration was the best way to describe the South Georgia Technical College Alumni/Sophomore Day Celebration held recently when the Jets and the Lady Jets matched-up against Albany Technical College.
There were a total of 10 sophomores recognized during the “Sophomore Day” presentations between the men’s and women’s games. The Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce cooked and provided free hamburgers and hotdogs for the faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees, and others who attended the festivities. A special alumni game featuring former Jets and Lady Jets players was held and the college also gave away free t-shirts to everyone in attendance as part of the Alumn/Sophomore Celebration. This year marked the 70th anniversary of the college’s first graduating class in 1949.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford thanked all the sophomore players and their families for committing their athletic careers to the Jets and Lady Jets programs. He also recognized the former Technic’s, Jets and Lady Jets players, retired faculty and staff and alumni who came back to help celebrate the college.
There were six Lady Jets and four Jets honored during the Sophomore Day Celebration. Ricka Jackson, Alyssa Nieves, Mari Hill, Fatou Pouye, Aubry Maulden and Bigue Sarr were the Lady Jets spotlighted as graduating sophomores and Adonis Green, Durand Green, Jonathan Tchuisse and Sam Matice were the Jets singled out.
“This is a unique group of young people,” said President Watford. “They have given us their all on the court as well as in the classroom. We are honored to recognize them as well as the other outstanding alumni, retirees, and faculty and staff who are with us today. We wish these young people much success as they continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level. As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our first graduating class, this is truly a merging of the proud past and promising future of South Georgia Tech!”
Ricka Jackson, from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was the first Lady Jets sophomore to be recognized. She was escorted by her mother, Danita Highsmith, sister Jessica Dillingham, and cousins, Will and Britt Clark. She is averaging 11 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists a game this year. She finished the year as second in the GCAA in field goal percentage shooting and assists to turn over ratio. She will graduate in May with an associate degree in Sports and Fitness Management with a 3.5 GPA. She will continue her education and playing career at Texas Tech University.
Alyssa Nieves, a sophomore from Tampa, FL, was escorted by her mother, Carmen, her father and brother Rolonda, and her cousin Alex. She is second in the GCAA in scoring averaging 18 points per game, first in three-point percentage shooting at 52% and is also ranked eighth nationally in three-point percentage shooting. She set the SGTC record for three point shots in a game with 11 and most points in a single game with 41. She was also named as an NJCAA Player of the Week. She has a 3.6 GPA and will graduate in May with an associate’s degree in Sports and Fitness Management. She has not yet signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career but has numerous offers.
Sophomore Mari Hill is from Aichi, Japan and was escorted by faithful Jet and Lady Jets supporter James Frank Williams. Hill leads the GCAA in assists per game and steals per game. She ranked 3rd nationally in assists per game and 9th in steals per game. She has a 3.8 GPA and will graduate in May with an Associate’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Management. She plans to continue her education and athletic career at a four-year institution of her choosing.
Fatou Pouye is a sophomore from Kaolack, Senegal and was escorted by Jets Booster Club member Martha Arrington. She is averaging 11 points and 9 rebounds per game. She is leading the GCAA in field goal percentage, offensive rebounding and ranks 9th nationally in offensive rebounding. Pouye has a 3.5 GPA and will graduate in May with a Sports and Fitness Management degree. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career for the University of Illinois.
Aubry Maulden from Darien, GA was escorted by her parents Joe and Sylvia Maulden. She sustained an ankle injury three games into her sophomore season but has been diligently rehabbing and working as a player/coach this season. She has a 3.5 GPA and will graduate in May with an associate degree in Sports and Fitness Management. She plans to continue her academic and athletic career at Wesleyan University in Macon.
The final Lady Jet recognized was Bigue Sarr, a sophomore from Dakar, Senegal. She was escorted by her brothers Salious Sarr and Libass Sap. She is currently second in the GCAA in blocks per game and fifth in field goal percentage shooting as well as fifth in rebounds per game. She also ranked 14th nationally in blocks per game. She has a 3.6 GPA and will graduate in May with an associate degree in Sports and Fitness Management. Sarr has signed a national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Oklahoma State University.
The four Jets recognized included Adonis Green, Durand Green, Jonathan Tchuisse and Sam Matice. Adonis Green is a sophomore from Stockbridge, Georgia. He came to SGTC in 2018 from New Faith Christian school. In his best game as a Jet, he had 15 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks. He was escorted by his parents, Elyssa and Aaron Green. He is currently working toward an associate degree in Sports and Fitness management and plans to continue his academic and athletic career at a four-year institution.
Durand Green, a sophomore guard from Brunswick, GA was escorted by his father Durand Green and his stepmother, Cassandra Jackson. He graduated from Glynn Academy High School and has been a part of the Jets since 2017. His best game was against St. Petersburg College where he scored 19 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal. He is also currently working toward an associate degree in Sports and Fitness Management and plans to continue his academic and athletic career.
Sophomore transfer Jonathan Tchuisse from Paris, France, joined the Jets in 2018. His best game as a Jet was against Tallahassee Community College where he scored 14 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. He was escorted by Ivy and Hutch Ballauer and plans to pursue a scholarship to continue his academic and athletic career at a four-year institution.
Sam Matice, a sophomore Saskatchewan, Canada, has spent two years with the Jets. His best game at a Jet came against Andrew College where he scored 12 points, had 10 rebounds, and five blocks. He plans to graduate in May with an associate degree in Sports and Fitness Management and continue his academic and athletic career. He was escorted by SGTC’s first lady Barbara Watford.
The Jets will play Wednesday at 7 p.m. at home against Gordon State College. The Lady Jets are scheduled to play Friday at 5:30 in the semi-final round of the NJCAA Region XVII tournament in Americus at the SGTC Hangar. The winner of that game and the 7:30 semi-final game will advance to the finals on Saturday, March 2nd at 2 p.m. The men will play at 6 p.m. that night against East Georgia State College in the final GCAA regular season game of the year.
