Suzuki holds form as SGTC Continues to Dominate GCAA

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Atlanta/Americus

South Georgia Tech continues to impress with its clear hold as the number one team in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association, zooming to 18-3 amid conference play in a lopsided 91-39 victory vs. Chattahoochee Tech. A couple of losses earlier in the season bumped the once top 25 program from the rankings, but from the looks of things, Coach James Frey squad may be back in the top 25 next week.

Strong play from the team’s sophomores, Desiree Corbin, Camille Coleman and Dejia James has led to a experienced and balanced attack all year. Corbin, an All American last season, continues to dominate as a defensive force, ranking #2 in the GCAA at 10.9RPG and #1 in at 56 total blocks. She is also chipping in 8.9 PPG. Sharpshooter Camille Coleman is currently leading the GCAA in 3PT% at a stellar 47.9% and chipping in 10PPG and 4.4RPG. Repeat GCAA Player of the Week and top scorer La’Deja James is posting an impressive 14.5PPG, 6.1RPG and is #1 in the conference in steals and overall FG%. She is also shooting a conference leading 82.9% from the charity line.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises thus far has been the play of Freshman PG Kanna Suzuki, from Hamamatsu, Japan. Kanna has started all but 3 games in her push to lead the team to an NCAA tournament. Last year’s loss to Georgia Highlands in the conference championship has left a bitter taste in the mouth of Coach Frey and Conyers. Kanna’s story is interesting in that she didn’t even play her senior season due to injury. She made a name for herself at Brandon Hall School in the GISA private school circuit as a junior, pushing her team to its first ever GISA state tournament and earning All State honors while averaging 24.5PPG. Falling off the radar her senior year, Suzuki was discovered by Coach Conyers while playing AAU with the Georgia Red Storm in a last ditch effort to get noticed. “I got information about Kanna while I was at the Battle of the Boro tourney and I knew that we needed to fill a PG position, so I checked her out. I was impressed with her ability to stretch the floor, her vision and timing. Considering that she had just recovered from an ACL injury, it was clear that she would get much better, so we took a chance with her.”

Suzuki has not let down the high expectations and has quickly made a name for herself thus far, leading the GCAA in 3PT made (39) along with total assists (94), while averaging 8.3PPG. Sharing time with other freshman PG, Trakyra Kidd, has had its growing pains, but the two have been forced to grow up quickly and learn to minimize mistakes. The Lady Jets look to extend their record to 19-3 next week as they journey to Atlanta to face Atlanta Metropolitan College on January 28.