South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets sophomore guard Shamari Tyson has announced that she plans to continue her academic and athletic career at Division I Stetson University in Deland, FL. She is the second South Georgia Technical College Lady Jet to sign with Stetson University this season. SGTC sophomore Yasriyyah Wazeerud-Din announced her intentions to join the Stetson Hatters last week.
“I am so proud of Shamari Tyson,” said South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “The sky is the limit for this young lady. I am so appreciative that she transferred to South Georgia Technical College for her sophomore season and that she trusted us and became a part of the Lady Jets family. I am certainly going to miss her.”
Tyson took the time to thank God and her support system. “I would just like to thank God for everything I have. Without him, I am nothing. From the day I stepped on the basketball court, I dreamed of playing Division I basketball. I had obstacles to overcome to realize this dream. This year has been a great opportunity for me and I am forever grateful,” said Tyson.
“Now that the process is officially over, I would like to thank my support system for everything they do,” added Tyson. “I especially want to thank my parents, my family, friends, my teammates, and my coaches. I am hours away from my parents but they never let me feel alone. My teammates made my better. My coaches at SGTC pushed me to be great. Coach Frey, I definitely thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to better myself as a person and a player. I would also like to thank all of my SGTC supporters.”
The 5’4” sophomore guard from Fort Wayne, IN, transferred to South Georgia Technical College from SE Illinois College for her sophomore season. She was a third team NJCAA All-American in 2019 and earned the NJCAA second team All-American honors this season for her performance on the court. She was also selected as the overall GCAA Player of the Year, and won the GCAA Player of the week nomination four different times. She was also a GCAA All-Academic team member this season.
Tyson was ranked third in the nation for three-point percentage shooting (47.2), 19th in the nation for three-point shooting (85 of 180), 20th in steals (91), 9th in assists (170), and fifth in turnover ratio (3.0). Tyson averaged 24 minutes per game and averaged 14.4 points per game. She hit 83% of her free throw shots, averaged 5.5 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists each outing. She also had 2.9 steals per game.
Tyson and Wazeerud-Din and the other four sophomore’s helped lead the Lady Jets to a record setting 30 – 2 overall record as well as the program’s fifth consecutive Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association regular season championship, fourth straight NJCAA Region XVII Tournament title, and fourth consecutive District J championship. The Lady Jets also earned the right to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas. However, the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tyson was also a GCAA All-Academic team member this season.
The Stetson University Hatters women’s basketball team will now have SGTC’s two NJCAA All-Americans to help them in the 2020 – 2021 season. This past season the Hatters finished 12 – 18 overall and and 6 – 10 in the conference. They average 61 points per game. They play Division I basketball in the Atlanta Sun Conference. Lynn Bria is the head coach.
