The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) men’s basketball coaches have released their preseason ranking for the 2021-2022 season, and the South Georgia State College (SGSC) Hawks landed in the top position. Last season, the Hawks (23-4, 13-3) captured the GCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship to earn an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. SGSC upset No. 12 Salt Lake Community College 93-89 (OT) in the first round and lost to No. 5 South Plains College 91-80 in the Sweet 16.
Returning for the 2021-2022 season will be Zae Wiggins, a 6’1″ point guard from Monticello, Fla.; A.J. Spencer, a 6’4″ guard/forward from Shiloh, Ga.; Turahn Thompson, a 6’5″ guard from Atlanta, Ga.; Malik Allen, a 6’4″ guard/forward from Hazlehurst, Ga.; Nick Jiles, a 6’0″ point guard from Lakeland, Fla.; Jesse Harbin, a 6’1″ guard from Gainesville, Ga., Lay Davis, a 6’9″ forward from Tallahassee, Fla., Justin Edmondson, a 6’3″ guard from Atlanta, Ga., Jayce Moore, a 6’3″ guard from Douglas, Ga.; and Robert Paul, a 6’6″ forward from Jonesboro, Ga.
SGSC has several newcomers that will be called into action including Treyvon Hinson, a 6’7″ forward from Sarasota, Fla.; Carlos Hart, a 6’6″ point guard from Miami, Fla., Jordan Moore, a 6’0″ guard from Douglas, Ga., Justin Brown, a 6’0″ point guard from Atlanta, Ga.; Malik Crawford, a 6’7″ forward from Farrah, Ga.; and Nebie Tesfa, a 6’5″ guard from Jacksonville, Fla.
Also joining the Hawks this season will be Jamon Mangusho, a 6’2″ guard from Claxton, Ga.; Deshaun Osborne, a 6’1″ point guard from Orlando, Fla.; Kacper Kabala, a 6’3″ guard from Walbzych, Poland; Cam Brown, a 6’0″ point guard from Waycross, Ga.; Wesly Ankomah, a 6’7″ forward from Atlanta, Ga.; J’Vonnie Rublejo, a 6’8″ forward from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Javeon Ingram, a 6’1″ guard from Douglas, Ga.; and Jaimonnie Watkins, a 6’6″ guard/forward from Atlanta, Ga.
Cory Baldwin begins his 23rd year of coaching this year. Baldwin reached a milestone this past season by earning a total of 300 wins during his 15 years as a head coach. He has been at SGSC since 2009 when the former Waycross College hired him to lead its men’s basketball program. Joining Baldwin on the coaching staff is DJ Hardy in his 12th season as assistant coach. Student assistant Ben Limbaugh is in his 2nd season with the Hawks. Student managers are Wesley Taylor, a recent graduate from Booker T. Washington High School and Jason Murray from Coffee High School.
The SGSC Hawks will have a scrimmage game on Wednesday, October 13 at 7:00 pm against Franklin Prep from Clemson, SC. The game will be held in the gymnasium on the Douglas campus. Everyone is invited to come out and support the Hawks as they start their new season. The complete schedule for the 2021-2022 season can be found at www.sgsc.edu/athletics/basketball_schedule.cms