SGTC recognizes sophomore Jets and Lady Jets

Nine South Georgia Technical College Jets and Lady Jets were recognized prior to the SGTC Lady Jets and Jets basketball games against the Albany Technical College Lady Titans and Titans as part of the SGTC Homecoming, Alumni and Sophomore Day celebration in the James S. Peters gymnasium Saturday. The Jets and Lady Jets both won those decisions.
The four Lady Jets recognized included: Nyla Buyck, Taja Bennett, Jada Jones, and Jaidyn Elam. The five Jets players recognized included: Jalexs Ewing, Marc Ferdy, Dwight Brown, Ilich Yacaman, and Matt William Mbole.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford thanked the players and their families for selecting South Georgia Technical College to continue their academic and athletic post-secondary careers. He wished them the best for the remainder of their seasons here and beyond. Dr. Watford and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier along with SGTC Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach Jason Carpenter and Jets head coach Chris Ballauer were part of the presentations.
Over the past three years under head coach Jason Carpenter, the Lady Jets are currently 64 – 29. They compiled a 20 – 10 overall record in 2023 – 2024 and finished second in the GCAA Division 1 women’s basketball regular season. Last season the Lady Jets won the GCAA Regular Season title and the NJCAA Region XVII end of the season tournament and the opportunity to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament. This season, they have taken first place in the conference with an 18 – 11 and 13 – 1 performance. They will host the NJCAA Region XVII end of the season tournament beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 12.
Sophomore forward Nyla Buyck is from Suitlad, Maryland and was escorted by her sister Laila Dodo. She was a starter for the Lady Jets for six games prior to suffering a season ending injury. She has a 3.04 GPA and will graduate in May with an Associate’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Management. She hopes to continue her academic and athletic career at an undecided university.
Taja Bennett is a sophomore guard from Dallas, Texas and was escorted by her mother Latisha Bennett and her father, Todd Bennett. She is currently fourth in the GCAA in scoring averaging 18.3 points per game and has been selected as the GCAA Player of the Week three times this season. She has obtained a 3.47 GPA and will graduate in May with an Associate’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Management.
The third Lady Jets player to be recognized was Jada Jones of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was escorted by her mother Natavia Jones and her father Benjamin Jones. She is a team co-captain currently averaging 7.5 points per game, and her 70 assists this season is the fifth most in the conference. She has a 3.29 GPA and will graduate in May with an Associate’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Management.
Jaidyn Elam is the fourth Lady Jet recognized. She is from Pontiac, Michigan and was escorted by her mother Felicia Elam, and her father, Roland Elam. She is a team co-captain and is averaging 12.5 points per contest. She has been selected as a GCAA Conference Player of the week. Elam has a 3.25 GPA and will graduate in May with an Associate’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Management.
All of the Lady Jets sophomores plan to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level and are waiting until the end of the season to finalize their decisions.
The Jets, under head coach Chris Ballauer, have compiled a 60 – 65 record over the past three seasons. They are 13 – 15 this season and currently ranked third in the GCAA. In 2024 – 2025, the Jets finished the regular season in fourth place and finished in third place in 2023- 2024. In his first year as a head coach, Chris and the Jets advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament. This season he has five sophomores.
Sophomore guard Jalexs Ewing is from Augusta, Georgia, and he came to SGTC from Benedict University. He has been a part of the Jets family for two seasons. He is currently working towards a degree in Sports and Fitness management and his best game as a Jet, he had 30 points, four rebounds, one block and two steals. He was escorted by Taniesha Smith and Angela Jackson.
Marc Ferdy is a sophomore forward from Orlando, Florida. He attended Grayson Community College prior to coming to SGTC. In his best game as a Jet, he had 10 points, 10 rebounds and one block. He was escorted by teammates Guillaume Schoetgen and Noa Istrefi. He is also working towards a degree in Sports and Fitness Management.
Dwight Brown is a sophomore from Conyers, Georgia. He has been a part of the Jets family for two seasons and his best game as a Jet saw him post 17 points, five rebounds, one steal and one block. He is working towards a degree in Sports and Fitness Management and was escorted by Karen Brown, Kiley Brown, Kelsey Brown, Dylan Brown and Cynthia Mastin.
The fourth Jet recognized was Ilich Yacaman from Orlando, Florida. In his best game as a Jet, he had 14 points, one assist and one steal. He was escorted by Ilich Valdimir Yacaman, Sr. and is working toward a degree in Sports and Fitness Management.
Matt William Mbole is a sophomore center from Yaounde, Cameroon. He has been a part of the Jets family for two seasons and is currently leading the NJCAA in rebounds this season. His best game resulted in 19 points and 19 rebounds, and two blocks. He is working on his associate’s degree in Sports and Fitness Management. He was escorted by Ivy Ballauer and her children, Layla, Lindi, and Hutch.
Each of the Jets sophomores are planning to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level but have not signed letters of intent.