Monroe continues to have busy signing season

ALBANY — Monroe’s busy signing season continued Thursday as two more talented athletes signed letters of intent.

Kelsey Davis announced she will be playing basketball for the Albany Tech Titans next season while Jaeda Hunt of Monroe’s state champion track and field team will be going to Georgia State to continue her track career.

For Hunt, who boasts seven individual state titles to go along with two team state track and field titles, the academic aspect of attending Georgia State solidified her decision.

“Really it’s about my major. I want to major in physical therapy, and they have one of the top programs,” she said. “I visited and talked to the team and the coach, and it was really nice. I like the campus.”

Head coach Billy Glanton said that Hunt is an athlete whom he believes will be able to contribute the moment she sets foot on campus.

“In Jaeda they’re getting an athlete that should be able to compete this year on the Division I level. I don’t think she’ll be one you have to sit back and wait to get ready, I think she’s ready now,” Glanton said. “I feel like we prepare them as well as anybody. We put them through a lot of rigor and stress in our training program, so when they get one from us we try to have them mentally and physically tough enough to take whatever you give them.”

Davis is following a tried and true path of attending a junior college before making the jump to NCAA Division I. She follows in the footsteps of former Tornadoes Toddriana Isler and Cekeya Mack, who both had stellar seasons at Andrew College and Albany Tech and caught the eye of D-I programs.

Davis said the example set by Mack as well as the chance to play with teammate Alissa Jones and Worth County’s DeAundra Smith helped her make the final decision.

“I felt comfortable,” Davis said. “I’ve seen Cekeya grown at Albany Tech, and I’ll be playing with two former teammates, DeAunda and Alissa. I’m going to try and continue to grow so when I get to the DI level it’ll be much easier.”

Davis gives the Titans an immediate post presence and fills a much-needed void on the glass as they lose their leading rebounder in Mack.

Monroe girls basketball head coach Jennifer Acree said Albany Tech is “getting a real steal” in terms of talent. She said she has no doubt whatsoever Davis and Jones will see similar success and said it was really about sending them to a place that will help them grow as people.

“Some kids just aren’t ready to leave home, leave the area, leave their parents,” Acree said. “The great thing about this is, with the success with, even when Darton was here, Albany Tech has had, both had great seasons and Andrews is right down the road. I’m affiliated with both teams and both programs, so I have no problem sending a kid that route because I know that they’re going to be taken care of.”