Fourteen sophomores from the 2019 – 2020 South Georgia Technical College Jets and Lady Jets intercollegiate basketball teams were honored between games as part of the South Georgia Tech Alumni-Sophomore Celebration held recently in the James S. Peters gymnasium. Each of the players were recognized by SGTC President Dr. John Watford and their head coach and presented with a framed poster of their photos on the court.
The Lady Jets and Jets played Andrew College as part of the sophomore day celebration that also featured an alumni game with stars from the past matching up against each other on the red and black teams. Members of the original Technic’s basketball teams from the 1970’s were also on hand as part of the celebration. Over 500 t-shirts were given away to SGTC alumni, retirees, current faculty, friends and supporters. The Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce also grilled out hotdogs and hamburgers for the large crowd.
Six sophomore members of the nationally ranked Lady Jets intercollegiate basketball team were recognized after they coasted to a win over the Andrew College Lady Tigers. Four of the six players had been with the Lady Jets for two years and two of the six were transfer players.
Amara Edeh, Yasriyyah Wazeerud-din, Anna McKendree, and Oumy Gueye were members of the Lady Jets from 2018 – 2020 and they have compiled an impressive 55 – 6 overall record and a 35 – 0 conference record at South Georgia Tech to date. They also led the Lady Jets to a GCAA regular season championship, a Region XVII tournament title, a District J championship, and the Lady Jets third consecutive trip to the National Tournament. They are hoping to repeat that performance again this season.
The other two Lady Jets sophomores to be recognized were transfer’s Shamari Tyson and Niya Goudelock. They have played a big part in the Lady Jets undefeated conference record so far this season and to their 16th ranking nationally.
Shamari Tyson is a sophomore from Fort Wayne, IN. She was escorted by her mother and father, Michelle Mills and Dennis Tyson. She transferred from Southeastern Illinois Community College where she was a third team NJCAA All-American last season. She is currently leading the GCAA in free throw percentage shooting, second in three-point percentage shooting, second in assists per games, second in assists to turnover ratio, third in steals per game, eighth in scoring, eighth in field goal percentage shooting and 16th in rebounding. She has a 3.2 GPA and has been named GCAA player of the week twice this season.
Niya Goudelock is from Gaffney, SC and was escorted by her mother and father Regina Harris and Kambui Goudelock. She transferred from Limestone University. Niya is currently fourth in the GCAA in steals per game, assists per game, and assists to turnover ratio. She is ninth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage, 14th in the conference in field goal percentage shooting and 20th in the conference in scoring. She was named GCAA Player of the Week earlier this season. She has a 3.3 grade point average.
Amara Edeh is from Enugu, Nigeria. She was escorted by Lady Jets assistant coach Ciarra Edwards. Amara is currently 5th in the GCAA in blocks per game and sixth in the conference in field goal percentage shooting. She currently has a 3.6 GPA.
Yasriyyah Wazeerud-din came to South Georgia Technical College from Marietta, GA. She was escorted by her parents Tonya and Yusuf Wazzeerud-din. She is currently leading the GCAA in three-point field goal percentage shooting and steals per game. She is second in free-throw percentages, third in scoring, third in assists to turnovers, fourth in field goal percentages, eighth in assists per game and 10th in rebounding. She has been named the GCAA Player of the Week twice and currently has a 3.5 GPA.
Anna McKendree is from Flowery Branch, GA. Her parents, Gerald and Deb McKendree along with her sister Jessica Braaten and nephew Oliver Braaten escorted her to the center court to be recognized. Anna is currently first in the GCAA in assist to turnover ratio, second in steals per game and three-point percentage shooting, fourth in field goal percentage, sixth in assists per game and ninth in scoring. She has a 3.2 GPA.
Oumy Gueye was the other Lady Jets sophomore to be recognized. She is from Thies, Senegal and was escorted by her cousins Cheikh Djiby and Alioune Diallo. She is currently seventh in the GCAA in free throw percentage shooting and 19th in field goal percentage shooting. She currently has a 3.3 GPA.
Each of these players are being recruited by four-year institutions and plan to graduate in May with an associate degree. They each plan to continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level.
The SGTC Jets had seven sophomore players and their manager recognized during the ceremonies. The sophomores on the Jets squad include: Toriana Lewis, Jarius Carroll, Brice Paster, Justin Jonson, Jaylan McKinney, Merdy Bata, and DJ Fisher. Five of the seven players have been with the Jets from 2018 – 2020. Their manager for the past two years is sophomore Lance Duhon.
Toriano Lewis is a sophomore from Richmond, Virginia. He was escorted by Toraino Lewis Sr., Janelle Lewis and Sheena Johnson. In his best game as a Jet, Toriano had 16 points, five rebounds and a steal.
Jarius Carroll is from Annapolis, Maryland. He was escorted by his father Charles Carroll and his aunt Tyra, his cousin Tatyanna and nephew, Areion. He came to South Georgia Tech from Henderson State University. In his best game as a Jet, Jarius had 15 points, four rebounds and three steals.
Brice Paster is a sophomore from Macon, GA. He came to SGTC from Peach County High School. He was escorted by his parents Prelvis and Sonda Paster. He scored 12 points, five rebounds, and had nine assists in his best game as a Jet.
Justin Johnson comes to SGTC from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was escorted by his parents Marcus and Rhonda Johnson. As a freshman, Justin was named first team All-Conference as a freshman and also named to the first team All-Freshman squad. In his best game with the Jets, he scored 36 points, nine rebounds, three assists and had four steals.
Jaylan McKinney is from Swainsboro, GA. He was escorted by Virginia McKinney and Faith Parrish. His best game as a Jet had him scoring 15 points with three rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Merdy Bara is from Kinshasa, Congo and transferred to South Georgia Technical College from Carver College. He has signed a letter of inten to play at Austin Peay in Clarksville, TN. He had seven points, nine rebounds and six blocks in his best game this season.
DJ Fisher came to South Georgia Technical College from Atlanta, GA. He was escorted by his parents Dorian and Michelle Fisher as well as his brother, Deion. He has been a part of the Jets program since 2018 and in his best game, he scored 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Lance Duhon of Ellaville, GA, has been the manager of the Jets for the last two years. His parents Angie and Dewey Duhon escorted him to center court to be recognized. His hard work has not gone unnoticed by the Jets as well as visiting colleges.
Each of the Jets are planning to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level when they complete their associate degree program.
Shown above are the sophomore Jets and their framed posters that were presented to them as part of the Sophomore Day recognition.