Three Lady Jets sign letters of intent to play Division I next season

The 2018 – 2019 basketball season is barely underway but three sophomores from the nationally ranked South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets inked letters of intent to play at the next level upon graduation.

“This is what you might call an unprecedented signing day,” laughed South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head basketball coach James Frey when sophomores Ricka Jackson from Ewa Beach, HI; Bigue Sarr from DaKar, Senegal; and Fatou Pouye from Kaolack, Senegal, all inked letters of intent to play with three different Division I Power 5 conference teams as part of the NCAA early signing period.

Ricka Jackson, a 5’ 10’ forward, who hails from Hawaii, signed to play Big 12 basketball with Texas Tech. Bigue Sarr, a 6’ 3” center, made her decision to play with Oklahoma State, which is also in the Big 12 league, and Fatou Pouye, a 6’ 0” forward, inked with Illinois in the Big 10 conference.

“I am very excited for all three of them,” said Coach Frey. “These colleges and universities are getting great people and great basketball players. These three are going to do well at the next level and I am going to enjoy watching them play on TV next year. This is a great day for these young ladies and it is also a great day for South Georgia Technical College.”

Each of these three players were a part of the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets squad that traveled to the NJCAA Division I National Basketball Tournament in Lubbock, Texas last season where the Lady Jets finished among the Top 16 teams in the nation. This was the second straight year and third time in four years that Coach Frey’s squads have been featured in the NJCAA National Tournament playoffs. The Lady Jets finished the 2017 -2018 season with a 29 – 6 overall record, the second best in the program’s history.

Ricka Jackson and Bigue Sarr were two of the three Lady Jets players that were invited to participate in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Star Showcase in Atlanta prior to the opening of the season. This showcase featured 40 of the top women’s junior college basketball players from the area.

At that time, Bigue Sarr made it known that she wanted to end up playing in the WNBA and she realized that the road to that dream involved getting to move on to the next level at a big college and get some good looks. “South Georgia Technical College has helped prepare me for the next step,” said Sarr. “Coach Frey has helped me to develop so that I can feel confident to play at the next level.”

Fatou Pouye said she also was ready to sign. “I wanted to go ahead and sign so that I could concentrate on this season and help our team realize our goals. I want to do well my last season here and then move on. This way I can concentrate on the season ahead of us,” said Pouye.

Ricka Jackson had said at the NJCAA All-Star Showcase that she hoped that exposure would give her more offers going into the season. She got her wish. Texas Tech from Lubbock, Texas, offered her a letter of intent and she signed on the dotted line. She also feels prepared to make the move. “Coach Frey and assistant coach Kenzia Conyers are both great coaches. They push us and prepare us to play at the next level and that is a good thing,” said Jackson.

The South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets returned five sophomores this season and are off to a great start. The Lady Jets were ranked 11th nationally in the NJCAA preseason poll and are currently 5 – 1 on the season. They lost their first regular season contest but are now 5 – 0.

To view a copy of the signing visit: http://www.walb.com/2018/11/15/lady-jets-sign-power-basketball-schools/ or http://www.walb.com/video/2018/11/15/south-georgia-tech-has-women-sign-di-scholarships/