Redd and Williams ink with Tougaloo College

Two Canton High School graduates and Holmes Community College Lady Bulldog sophomore basketball players Jamaya Redd and Morgan Williams took their games to the next level recently by signing with Tougaloo College.

Redd, a point guard, and Williams, a guard, made it official last Friday with Tougaloo College Head Coach Keith Barnes, Sr. and the Lady Bulldogs. Tougaloo plays in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and is a NAIA school.

The Holmes Lady Bulldogs are 6-7 overall and 6-6 in the MACCC North coming into tonight's MACCC North Division contest in Moorhead. The Lady Bulldogs end the regular season on Monday night in Goodman vs. East Mississippi at 6 p.m., and it'll be sophomore night for Redd and Williams.

So far this season, Redd is averaging 3.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game and .8 steals per game while Williams is averaging 9.6 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, .9 steals per game and .8 blocks per game. Williams scored 16 points on Monday night vs. Itawamba in Goodman.

Both Redd and Williams had family members who played at Tougaloo, which helped them make their decision.

"My grandmother went there," Redd said. "My coach (Coach Barnes) went there, and he coaches similar to my coaches at Canton and Coach Andrews. He listens really well."

"They have a really good team," she said. "They are really close. They go and work out even when they don't have mandatory workouts."

Redd said she's grateful to be able to move on to the four-year level. "It's a good opportunity," she said. "I wanted to keep playing. I didn't want to sit at home and be lazy."

She said her strengths are being able to call plays. "My strength also is making the best plays and being vocal."

Being at Holmes has been a great opportunity for Redd. She said she has enjoyed being with her team at Holmes "Also, I've enjoyed us having fun all the time and playing together all the time," Redd said. She is also proud she, Williams, Jordyn Manning and Jalaceia Smith have excelled here at Holmes. "We are still playing together and making history."

Williams' aunt, Melissa Word, who is the coach at Canton, played at Tougaloo as well. "She told me it was a good school and a good HBCU and it was one of the top schools in the country," Williams said. "It is a good program, and Coach Barnes is a good coach.

She said her strength is shooting the ball, driving to the hole and getting to the line.

"I'm glad to be able to play with them from our freshman year in high school until now and be able to play with Redd to the next level again," she said of Redd and her teammates from Canton High School.

"As you know I'm extremely proud of them," Holmes Head Coach Jamilah Andrews said. "They've worked hard, and I'm excited they are getting the opportunity to go on and move forward by continuing their education and playing basketball. I definitely think Tougaloo is getting a steal out of both of the girls."

"Redd has been a great leader for us on the court," she said. "She's a great facilitator like she said. She's improved with her mid-range jumper and attacking the basket."

"Morgan is a great shooter like she said," she said of Williams. "She can penetrate the gap and pull up and get to the free throw line. She's made some big shots for us this year."

"I hope Coach Barnes can appreciate and know they are hard workers," she added. "We work hard in our program. I hope they continue that work ethic."

Andrews said she is proud of the foursome from Canton. "I think it was a blessing in disguise for them and us as well," Andrews said. "It's been good because it's helped them with their transition. They are used to playing together and they kind of jell. These girls had an upper hand in already knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses. That worked out in our favor."

Due to COVID-19, the MACCC will not have a State Tournament but all teams will be participating in the Region XXIII Tournament. The winner of the North and South Division will be co-MACCC Champions and then all teams will be seeded for the Region XXIII Tournament. Teams with the best records and best seeds will host the early games at their home site before the final four will be played at Mississippi College.

"I just want to finish out the season strong," Williams said. "I want to win these next few games and make the playoffs and continue from there."

"I want us to work harder these next two games and keep our mind on the right thing," Redd said. "I want to get to the championship and playoffs and win."