Meet the Jaguars
Augusta's first official practice of the 2021-22 season should excite Jaguar fans longing to see the home team play in person
Augusta began its 2021-2022 season Friday at 6:30 A.M. with the first official practice for an experienced and talented squad that is eager to get back to normal.
“It feels much better than last year,” senior Troy Cracknell said after practice ended at 8:30. “Last year we had no fans with COVID going on. This year, being we have fans now, full capacity, it’s really exciting. We have a couple great guys coming in… We have a great chance to have a great year.”
Last Season’s Insurmountable Obstacle
Playing in front of an empty arena was not even the biggest obstacle for Augusta last season. Soon after the team started 2-0 and received a #10 national ranking, the Jaguars lost the services of five players, including Cracknell and junior Miguel Arnold, both starters, for the rest of the season because of complications related to the virus. Augusta only managed to play 16 games, usually with eight or fewer players. The Jaguars finished 9-7. In the prior two seasons combined, the Jaguars compiled a 49-14 record, complete with two NCAA tournament appearances, a Peach Belt Conference regular season championship and a PBC tournament championship.
The sight of thirteen Jaguars in practice uniform Friday served as a reminder that Augusta could be on its way back to championship form when the fans return to the stands November 23rd for a 7:30 P.M. game against Benedict.
Crawford’s Transformation
The most imposing presence on the practice floor was junior Tyshaun Crawford, the 7-1 junior center who begins his third season with Augusta after transferring from Georgia Southern. Crawford has made incredible progress since his arrival 24 months ago. His physique is visually striking because he has lost nearly 50 pounds since transferring. His ability to run the floor and his shooting touch are both significantly improved, as he discussed in the interview in the video above.
Last season, Crawford’s free throw percentage shot up to 68% from 47% in his first year in Augusta. And his scoring (13 ppg) and rebounding (9 rpg) did not take a dip despite being double and triple-teamed throughout the season without Cracknell and Arnold on the floor to keep opposing defenses honest.
Arnold Returns to Strip the Nets
Both during a preseason workout I witnessed last month, and in today’s official practice, Arnold has appeared ready to pick up where he left off last season when his year was cut short after two games.
In the only two games he played last season, Arnold scored 41 points, made 7 of his 14 three-point attempts, and recorded 9 assists. He averaged 13 points during his sophomore campaign and 12 as a freshman. Arnold is a 42% three-point shooter for his career.
Veteran Leadership a Strength
Joining Crawford, Cracknell and Arnold are veteran junior guards Tyree Meyers and Darren Lucas-White. Meyers is a three-year starter who quarterbacked the offense as a freshman during Augusta’s 28-6 dream season in which the Jaguars won 15 straight games to earn a PBC regular season and tournament championship, before finally bowing out in the third round of the NCAA tournament. And Lucas-White has been the conference’s best perimeter defender since arriving in Augusta.
Even though it was never in question, Meyers and Lucas-White proved their physical and metal toughness last season when they both stepped into the scoring void left by Arnold and Cracknell to lead the Jaguars to a better than .500 record when lesser teams would have been forced to end the season early due to a depleted roster. Lucas-White averaged 14 points and 2 steals per game, and Meyers tallied 13 points and 4 assists as the duo from Maryland logged heavy minutes.
Senior Jack Johnson is back for his fourth season. And former Glenn Hills High School teammates John Whitehead and Timmy Sellers both return for their second year with the Jaguars.
Seven Newcomers Reinforce the Roster
Seven more players will play their first full season with Augusta, including two Division I transfers: Ja’Queze Kirby (Murray State) and sophomore David Viti (Georgia Southern).
Kirby is a 6-5 freshman who earned a stellar reputation playing high school basketball for Jefferson Davis in Hazlehurst, Georgia. During our interview after practice, he agreed that when it comes to the way Augusta’s coaches and players prepare, work and strive for excellence, the difference between Division I and II is only a number.
“That’s one thing I was coming to look for,” Kirby said about whether the approach in Augusta would differ from that at Murray State. “But there’s no difference… there’s a whole lot of talent in Division II.”
Rounding out the roster are freshmen Daniel Allen, Adonnis Easton Tolbert, Demitri Gardner and Carson Seemann. Allen and Tolbert were with the team last season. But Allen was only allowed to play during the final four games of the season, and Tolbert will play his first game this year. Gardner and Seemann both enjoyed individual and team success leading their high school teams as seniors last season.
Cracknell and Arnold the Last to Leave
After practice ended Friday morning and the post-practice interviews were concluded, Cracknell and Arnold were the last two players remaining on the court. Their return will mean so much for Augusta after last season’s COVID stricken season. And seeing a full roster of experienced and talented Jaguars will mean the world to die hard Jaguar fans next month when we are all allowed back in Christenberry Fieldhouse to cheer on the home team.