AUGUSTA, Ga. -- GRU Augusta Men's Basketball Head Coach Dip Metress announced Friday the signing of four student-athletes who will join the Jaguar program for the Fall, 2013 semester.
Two transfers and two high school standouts comprise the GRU Augusta recruiting class. The Jags beefed up their interior with the addition of four frontcourt players in Henry McCarthy, Witalij Martynow, Ronell Crockett and Kelvin Howard.
McCarthy, a 6-9, 221-pound sophomore from Honefoss, Norway, spent the 2012-13 season at Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif. As a freshman, McCarthy averaged 9.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Renegades.
"Henry is a versatile post player who has proven the ability to compete at the collegiate level," Metress said.
At 6-9 and 218 pounds, Martynow hails from Wroclaw, Poland and will be a freshman for the Jags.
"Witalij is a very intriguing prospect," said Metress. "His athleticism and potential is off the charts."
Ronell Crockett, a 6-3, 195-pound wing player from Anderson, S.C., averaged 14.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 2012-13 for Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist College. Crockett earned NJCAA All-American honors as a sophomore and shot 49.3 percent for the Pioneers, including 36.4 percent from 3-point range. A product of T.L. Hannah High School, Crockett played two seasons for SMC and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
"Ronell is a winner who can make plays and has a quick bounce off the floor," Metress said.
Kelvin Howard, a 6-5 191-pound forward from Temple Hills, Md., played at nationally-renowned Dematha High School.
"Kelvin gives us some great size and depth at the wing position and has a great-looking shooting stroke," said Metress.
The Jags posted a 14-13 record last season and advanced to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals. GRU Augusta is expected to return four starters and six lettermen from the 2012-13 squad.