Augusta University Legends Siler and Sherrill start fast in the new professional season

Garret Siler's Fubon Braves play this week in the Super 8 tournament in Macau (China)
Photo Credit: Onvisa Thewphaingarm

Two Augusta University legends, Garret Siler and Keshun Sherrill, began their 2017-18 professional seasons last week, and it's my goal to make this the first of many updates about their progress and hopefully that of the many other pros with area ties playing around the globe.

Siler, who played for the Phoenix Suns from 2010 to 2012, helped establish Augusta as a division II power by leading the Jaguars to two consecutive NCAA final four appearances. In the process he set the division II field goal percentage single season (78.9%) and career (73.5%) records. Sherrill graduated in May after becoming the all time scoring leader for both Augusta and the Peach Belt Conference. He was named an All-American three times.

Siler, the veteran of this pair, excelled in his first outing with Taiwan's Fubon Braves, averaging 16.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in 4 games last week in the Seri Mutiara Champions Cup tournament in Malaysia. Fubon finished 2-2 in the tournament, which featured teams from 7 different countries and a host of familiar American players, from former NBA great Stephon Marbury to Augusta native Jaleel Roberts. Of course Marbury was a two-time NBA all star. Roberts played his high school ball at Evans before playing in college at UNC-Asheville.

Siler, a 7 footer, was the playoff MVP in Taiwan's Super Basketball League in 2015.

Roberts got off to a good start

Siler's debut was spoiled by another area native's team when NS Matrix, which features former Evans Knight Jaleel Roberts, topped Fubon 100-91 in the tournament's first game.

Jaleel Roberts averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the Seri Mutiara Champions Cup.
Photo Credit: Onvisa Thewphaingarm

Tonesanddefinition.com, which provided extensive tournament coverage, reported that "Jaleel Roberts brought the home crowd to their feet after opening up the scoring on offense and pinning a shot on the backboard on defense." But it was Roberts's teammate Keith Hornsby, who played at LSU, who stole the spotlight from everyone at the tournament by scoring 47 points in that opening round win and averaging more than 40 for the week.

Sherrill has been picking up where he left off

Keshun Sherrill elevates for a three pointer

People who watched Keshun Sherrill electrify the college hoops scene the past four seasons will not be surprised to learn that the 5'8" "superman" has been the leading scorer for his new team, New Heroes Basketball of the Netherlands, in each of the team's preseason games this month. Sherrill scored 23 points in a win, and 18 and 25 in a pair of losses. The team begins its regular season schedule October 10.

As you can see in this promotional video, Sherrill is already the face of New Heroes basketball, no matter his height:

Sherrill's image still towers over Wrightsboro Road on a giant billboard down the road from Augusta University's gym. Hoops fans won't soon forget the impact he made on our town. The highlights from his final season (below) are worth watching again. They include his 33 point outburst at Wichita State that almost single handedly knocked out the nationally renowned Shockers, his march through Peach Belt Conference action on his way to league MVP status, and everything in between.

Look up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane...