Former Lady Jet Alyssa Nieves returns to Americus to play for GSW
Alyssa Nieves, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Honorable Mention All-American and Most Valuable Player of the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets District J championship game in 2019, has decided to transfer from Morehead State University to Georgia Southwestern State University for her senior season.
“We are so excited to have Alyssa back in Americus and finishing up her academic and playing careers at Georgia Southwestern State University,” said South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “Her junior year didn’t go the way she wanted it too and she wanted to have an enjoyable senior year. I am personally glad she chose GSW. She will have a lot of familiar faces in the stands now watching her play again. Our ability to help support her on and off the floor is something I think she considered when making her choice. I know she had a lot of schools contact her once she entered the transfer portal.”
Nieves signed with Division I Morehead State University Eagles in Morehead, Kentucky at the end of her sophomore season with the Lady Jets. The Eagles participated in the Ohio Valley Conference. She started four games and played in 28 games for the Eagles this season and averaged 2.9 points per game. She was an 87.5% free throw shooter and had a career high of 20 points and three rebounds against Midway Kentucky as a Junior. Morehead finished the year 10 – 20 overall and 6 – 12 in the conference
The Tampa, FL native helped lead South Georgia Technical College to 59 wins in her two seasons as a Lady Jet. She set multiple records and averaged 8.8 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and was a 32% three-point shooter her freshman year. As a sophomore, she averaged 15.1 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, set a school record for most points in a game (41), and set another school record for most three-pointers in a game (11). She had a 42% three-point shot rating her sophomore year and earned NJCAA All-American honors.
Nieves helped lead the Lady Jets to back to back Georgia College Athletic Association regular season conference titles, NJCAA Region XVII District tournament wins, District J championships and to the NJCAA National Tournament twice.
Georgia Southwestern State University’s Lady Canes finished the 2019 -2020 season 11 – 15 overall and 7 – 13 in the conference. They play Lander University, North Georgia, Clayton State, Columbus State, Francis Marion University, USC Aiken, Young Harris College, and Augusta University at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Peach Belt Conference. They are coached by Justin Payne. This was his first season at the helm of the Lady Canes. He spent eight seasons as an assistant women’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Nicholls State University prior to being named the head coach at GSW.