AMERICUS, Ga. — Several former standouts from the Georgia Southwestern State University women's basketball program will take the national postseason stage this week as their NCAA Division I teams compete in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament.
Former Hurricanes
Destiny Garrett and
Armani Cooke are part of a standout season for Georgia Southern University, which enters the tournament with a 23-7 record after winning the program's first-ever Sun Belt Conference regular season championship. The Eagles are led by SBC Coach of the Year Hana Haden, who previously guided the Lady Hurricanes to an Elite Eight appearance in 2024.
Former GSW standout
Ndidiamaka Ndukwe will also compete in the tournament for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels women's basketball team. The Colonels enter postseason play at 24-8 overall after claiming the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championship.
Georgia Southern opens the tournament in Coral Gables, Fla., on Thursday at the No. 2 seed University of Miami, while Eastern Kentucky will host its opening-round matchup Thursday against the No. 1 seed University of Utah.
If both teams advance through the first two rounds, the Eagles and Colonels could meet in the WBIT quarterfinals.
Garrett Leading the Eagles
Garrett has been one of the Eagles' top players this season, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors while averaging a team-best 14.9 points, with 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. She scored in double figures in 25 games and was over 20 points in seven contests, including a season-high 29 at Troy on January 22.
Before transferring to Georgia Southern, Garrett spent three seasons at Georgia Southwestern from 2022-25 and became one of the most accomplished players in program history. She earned First Team All-Peach Belt Conference honors in 2024-25, was a WBCA Division II Honorable Mention All-American, and finished her GSW career as the program's all-time leader in assists.
Simmons Played Key Role Before Injury
Former Hurricane Shanti Simmons was also a key part of Georgia Southern's lineup this season before suffering a season-ending injury.
The fifth-year senior averaged 11.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field, helping the Eagles secure the Sun Belt regular season title.
Simmons previously played the 2023-24 season at Georgia Southwestern under Haden, where she averaged 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and earned Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week honors.
Cooke, another former Hurricane, has also been part of the Eagles' roster this season after spending two years at Georgia Southwestern.
Ndukwe Contributing at Eastern Kentucky
Ndukwe has continued her scoring impact at Eastern Kentucky, averaging 10.6 points per game this season, which ranks third on the team, while connecting on 38 three-pointers. She scored in double figures 17 times, including a stretch of 13 games in a row. Ndukwe posted over 20 points on three occasions.
Her offensive ability was on full display during her time at Georgia Southwestern. In the 2024-25 season, she averaged 19.3 points per game, earning D2CCA All-Region and Second Team All-Peach Belt Conference honors.
She also helped lead the Hurricanes to a memorable 2023-24 campaign that included Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships along with the NCAA Division II Southeast Region title, where she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the regional tournament.
With four former players appearing in the field, the Georgia Southwestern State University women's basketball program will once again have a presence on the national stage when the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament begins this week.
