Lady Jags sign nine recruits

Coming off a Division II Elite Eight appearance and a season-ending national ranking, Augusta State women's basketball coach Greg Wilson wanted to use that momentum for recruiting.

And with Wilson's constant poor-mouthing, it's hard to tell if the Lady Jaguars did just that.

"The biggest thing it did was put us on the tips of the tongues of some transfer players," he said.

For the second consecutive year, Wilson signed nine recruits. Highlighting the class includes: UNC Wilmington sophomore power forward Shirrell Ford, Palm Beach Community College junior point guard Kasie Muchler and New Mexico Junior College junior center Eva Vodrazkova.

The 6-foot Ford, who Wilson said, "kind of got lost in the system" last year, put up stellar numbers in high school. At Hilton Head Prep, she averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks a game.

Muchler averaged 14 points and five assists a game last year and shot 37 percent from the perimeter. Vodrazkova, a 6-2 Slovakian, averaged nine points, six rebounds and more than four blocks a game during her sophomore season.

"I think we addressed some of our needs," Wilson said. "A lot of this year's success will depend on what this new class contributes."

Wilson added six other players, including: Jenkins County point guard Whitney Muckerson; Newton wing Jamica Wyatt; Laney post Samantha Wilson; Prince Avenue Baptist guard Kim DeMersseman; Georgia Perimeter College post Rameeka Swint; and Northern Kentucky wing Julie Robbins. Robbins played for Wilson her freshman year, but left because of homesickness. She returned after her friends left Northern Kentucky.

She averaged six points a game her freshman season and has two years of eligibility left.

"I'm glad to have her back," Wilson said. "She already knows what we can do."

Augusta State (24-8) finished its best season ever in March, marking a season of firsts. The Lady Jaguars tied a school record for wins and captured their first South Atlantic Regional Championship along the way to qualify for the Elite Eight. The team also closed the year at No. 10, its first top-25 season-ending ranking.

The Lady Jaguars lost senior guards Ernesia Wideman and Alshaa' Hodges, senior forward Shundra Johnson, and junior center Cheryl Audain, who returned home to take care of her 5-year-old son in the West Indies. The quartet represented 68 percent of the team's offense and 54 percent of its rebounding.

"I don't know if you ever feel totally prepared to make a run at a top-10 ranking," Wilson said. "This time, your whole front line is different. We won't be quite as athletic, but we will continue with the same style of play."

And he'll continue with arguably his biggest coup, adding assistant coach Wes Aldrich. The 68-year-old Aldrich has coached in Division I, Division II and junior college and high school.

When graduate assistant JoAnne Hassel left after this past season, Wilson posted the job opening on a Christian coaches Web site. Only Aldrich responded.

"He's got tremendous experience," Wilson said. "It'll be fun to have him as part of our team. I'm excited to have him here."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.