Taja Cole, a redshirt-sophomore on the Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball team, is one of 28 student-athlete representatives who will meet as part of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Councils this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
 
Cole, who transferred from Louisville to Georgia in 2016, enters this season as a leader both on and off the court for the Lady Bulldogs. The Richmond, Virginia native has taken an active role in many leadership and community service efforts during her time in Athens.
 
 
“It has been an honor to represent Georgia and the top conference in college basketball as a member of the SEC Leadership Council,” Cole said. “Director of Student-Athlete Engagement Misty Brown and Commissioner Greg Sankey are so receptive to our views and concerns. I truly think their engagement and willingness to hear from us is what makes playing in the SEC an experience like no other.”
 
 
The SEC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Councils will convene for their annual meeting at SEC headquarters Friday and Saturday. The two councils consist of one male representative and one female representative from each of the SEC’s 14 institutions.
 
 
Among the agenda items for the group is a conversation with Commissioner Greg Sankey followed by a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items related to basketball. The 28 student-athletes will also have an opportunity to engage with men’s and women’s basketball officials on rules of the game and student-athlete/referee interaction.