South Georgia Tech Jets sign impressive group for new basketball season

South Georgia Technical College Jets head basketball coach Travis Garrett and assistant coach Chris Ballauer have signed 11 new prospects for the upcoming 2016 – 2017 basketball season and are bringing back two veterans from last season.

“We are very excited about this new class,” said Garrett. “The new group of potential Jets includes four college transfers as well as one former Americus-Sumter High School graduate, Fred Bryant, a 5’ 10” freshman guard.”

In addition to these 11 new prospects, Coach Garrett will also have two players, Pat Welch and Rico Simmons, returning from his first season as the head coach of the Jets. His team finished the 2015 – 2016 season with a 15-16 record and advanced to the quarter-final round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XVII tournament.

Rico Simmons, a 5’ 9” sophomore from Wilkinson County, averaged 9.6 points per game as a freshman with South Georgia Technical College and was the team’s MVP from the 2015-2016 season. He started 17 games for the Jets as a freshman and shot 36.5% from the field and 31% from the three-point line. He was also an 84.3% free throw shooter.

Pat Welch, a 6’ 0’ guard from Manchester, NH, is also returning. He started eight games last season but only played in 17 games due to an injury. He was averaging 6.2 points per game as well as shooting 34.9% from the field and 34.2% from the three point line.

Joining those two returning guards with collegiate experience will be four college transfers. They are: Andre Kennedy, a 6’ 7” forward from Albany, Georgia; Bobby Jackson, a 6’ 6” sophomore from Dracula, Georgia who played at East Georgia College and is a graduate of Bermar High School; Ed Jones, a 6’ 8” forward from Fairburn, GA, who played a Jacksonville State University and graduated from Creekside High School and Jordan Bates, a 6’ 6” forward from Apopka, FL, who is coming from West Florida University.

“Andre Kennedy is a graduate of Westover High School and played his first season at Lawson State. He is an athletic forward and is a very good rebounder. He also has good ball handling ability, a good midrange shot and is great in transition. He is a welcomed addition to the program,” said Garrett.

Coach Garrett is also pleased with Bobby Jackson, who will add experience to the team. “Bobby is a very athletic wing that plays above the rim and is also great in transition,” explained Garrett.

The third transfer, Ed Jones, was described by Garrett as a “quality young man that will also be a great addition to the program. Ed is a long athletic forward that has the ability to play inside/out offensively and block shots on the defense.”

Jordan Bates is the other incoming player with some collegiate experience. “He is a big lefty wing that plays extremely hard and has the ability to shoot, drive and is very effective in transition,” said Garrett.

The other seven prospects include Americus-Sumter High School standout guard Fred Bryant. “Fred is a very explosive guard that can shoot or finish at the basket. He is very passionate about the game and has been well coached. The best is yet to come for him,” said Garrett.

Joining Bryant as freshmen will be: Mike Boone, a 6’2” point guard from Concord Prep in North Carolina; James Rogers, a 6’ 6” guard from Charleston, SC; Erikas Jaksyts, a 6’ 3” guard from Lithuania Combine Academy; Jeremy Myers, a 6’ 7” forward from Tallahassee, FL; and DeAntre Mack, a 6’ 1” guard from Jonesboro, GA.

“We are excited about this group of prospects and we are looking forward to the upcoming season,” said Coach Garrett. “We encourage everyone to come out and support the Jets because this is going to be a fun team to watch.”