The Central Georgia Tech Lady Titans prepare for a fresh start

The head coach of the Central Georgia

Technical College Lady Titans is

excited about the coming season. Don’t

believe me just ask him

yourself. “I think we are a little bit

ahead of schedule,” said

Antonio Harris by phone Tuesday afternoon.

“We are young but talented.

I tell the team all the time ‘Ya’ll have the

talent and it’s time to

grow up quick’,” joked Harris.

 

The “ya’ll” Harris is speaking of

are the nine freshmen coming on

board this season. Some of the players are

from as nearby as Macon

(Sadaja Price, a 6-2 forward from Northeast

High School) and as far as

Birmingham, Alabama (small forward Jayde

Jackson). The recruiting

class is a versatile one that features

everything from a scorer the

likes of Mikayla Woods, a 5-10 forward out

of Lowndes High School to a

post presence in Jaunisha Black. A 6-foot

forward/center from

Pembroke, Georgia and Bryan County High

School. On Black Harris says,

“She’s a rebounder.” On Woods:

“She has a pretty good touch on her

shot, a really smart kid.”

 

Left to his own devices Harris can go on and

on about his newcomers.

 

On Sakendra Paulk, a guard from Fitzgerald

High School who will be

teaming up with her former high school

teammate Hayleigh Ross. also a

freshman, Harris says, “Defensively

you’re going to know she’s there.”

 

About her former and current teammate Ross

he said, “She can shoot it.”

 

One of the freshman that will be making an

immediate impact is

Swainsboro native Dynesha Brown, a 5-7 guard

that Harris admitted

could play right away. “She and Ross

can play right now.” Both players

played well on the juco jamboree circuit

 earlier this month. Central

Georgia Tech played in Albany (Ga.) and in

Panama City, Florida at the

CB Hoops Jamboree last Sunday.

 

Incoming guard Avanna Preston, a member of

the 2018-19 6A state

champion Lovejoy Lady Wildcats team, is also

coming to campus with a

reputation for playing in big games. As does

Rasheka Simmons, a 5-10

forward with the ability to also play the

guard position.

 

“All of these freshman have to get

adjusted to the speed of the

college game,” said Harris.

 

The Titans are blessed with three sophomores

who are familiar with the

program and Harris’ expectations; forwards

Ayana Collins and Laurie

Thomas and red-shirt sophomore Janelle Cook.

They may not have to get

adjusted to playing college ball but they

will be in new leadership

positions this time around.

 

“Laurie is going to have to play a ton

of minutes because we are going

to have to lean heavily on her leadership

qualities,” said Harris of

the team’s leading returning scorer. “

Her and Ayana [Collins] both.”

 

The wild card will be Cook, who missed the

entire season last year and

according to Harris was recently medically

cleared to play. A transfer

from Atlanta Metropolitan College two years

ago, Harris will provide a

veteran presence in the back court.

 

The Lady Titans will play a couple games

against Division II programs

in preparation for the regular season

beginning on Wednesday with

their game at Middle Georgia State

University (5:30 p.m. tip-off).

Central Georgia Tech will travel to Augusta

to play Augusta State

University on Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.).

 

The home opener will take place on the

Warner Robins campus against

Southern Crescent Technical College (6

p.m.).

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