Carrollton – The 21st ranked West Georgia Wolves are off to a strong, 4-2 start to their new season. And coach
Craig Roden is also off to a very good start in reloading his Wolves for the coming seasons.
Roden Monday announced the signing of five top prospects during the NCAA’s recent November signing period. The group includes two top junior college transfers and three high school players.
“We went into the early period wanting to sign two or three,” said Roden. “With us losing five seniors, we didn’t want to go into the spring needing to sign our entire (recruiting) class. We’re thrilled to add this type of class, and be able to do it during the early period.
One member of UWG’s new recruiting class is familiar to many local fans.
Thomassian Wyatt, a 5-9 guard/forward, is a former star from nearby Bowdon High School. She is currently playing a major role for Southern Union State (Ala.) Community College, where the Bison are off to a 9-0 start on the season.
Wyatt is posting some impressive numbers for coach Janet Sparks’ team. She is averaging 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest. Also, Wyatt is connecting on 44% of her shots, 35% from three-point range, and is a 71% free throw shooter. Her career, single-game highs are 18 points and 16 rebounds.
UWG’s other junior college recruit is
Kim Jones, a 6-2 center from Baxley. She prepped at Appling County High, and played the past two seasons at Gulf Coast (Fla.) Community College.
At Gulf Coast, she was a teammate of current Wolves standouts
Dominic Cranford and
Ashley Ogletree, and helped coach Roonie Scovel take her team to the 2008-09 NJCAA national title. Jones, who will enroll at UWG in January, averaged nine points and seven rebounds per game a year ago during the Commodores’ run to the national title.
“We think we gave ourselves some immediate help with Jones and Wyatt,” said Roden. “They both come from winning programs, especially Kim from the national championship team. And, Thomassian has been the driving forced behind Southern Union’s big start.”
Beyond the two transfers, a trio of highly regarded prep players is also on its way to West Georgia. Roden added two inside players from the state, and a highly regarded point guard from Tennessee.
The guard is
B.B. Brooks, a 5-5 dynamo from Westview High School in Martin, Tenn. A year ago she led her team with 147 assists, 54 steals, and took 25 charges. Brooks was also an All-District 13-AA selection.
Her biggest fan is high school coach Sean Stephenson. “B.B. is one of the hardest working kids I have ever coached,” he said, adding, “She is a great communicator. She takes charges; sets great screens, runs our offense and is a great defender. I think West Georgia is a great fit for her to continue her playing career.”
On the inside, UWG signed 6-0 center
Kenya Drayton of Hephzibah High School. She was a 10-point, eight-rebound per game scorer for coach Wendell Lofton, who describes Drayton as “a rebound machine” for his Hephzibah team. The coach continues, “Her leadership qualities are readily recognized, on and off the court. She will be a great asset to the West Georgia program.”
UWG’s other early addition from the prep ranks is
Brooke Lane, a 5-11 post player from Shiloh High in Gwinnett County. Lane preps for coach Dale Grant, and last year averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game for the Generals.
Roden is excited about the three youngsters joining the program. “We added a true point guard and quarterback in Brooks, somebody who has been coached on how to run a team,” he said. “And we signed two post players whose best basketball is ahead of them, and who will be very good contributors here.”