AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State head basketball coach Dip Metress announced Monday that Robertas Kleiva has signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the Jaguars beginning in the fall of 2006. He is the fourth signee of the spring period for Metress, who led the Jaguars to a 15-13 record in 2005-06, his second season at the helm of the ASU men’s basketball program.

A 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward from Siauliai, Lithuania, Kleiva averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals per game as a senior for Pace Academy in Atlanta last season.

“Robertas is unique in the sense that he is a perimeter-oriented player that due to his size has played inside in high school. He could be a hidden gem,” Metress said. “He has only been in the United States a year and will continue to get better as a player because he has an excellent work ethic.”

Kleiva is the fourth member of the Jags' spring signing class, joining Howard Brown, a 6-6 forward from Urban Christian Academy in Savannah, Ga.; Kip Small, a 5-11 guard from Keenan High in Columbia, S.C.; and Daniel Dixon, a 5-9 guard from Falls Church, Va.

The Jaguars return two starters and nine lettermen from last year’s squad that finished sixth in the Peach Belt Conference regular-season standings and advanced to the PBC Tournament quarterfinals.