AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State head basketball coach Dip Metress announced Tuesday that Etsho Ilunga has signed to play for the Jaguars beginning in the fall of 2006. He is the fifth 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 6-7, 200-pound forward from Lubumbashi, Congo, Ilunga helped lead Southeastern Illinois College to a 23-8 record last season and a second-place finish in Region 24 of the NJCAA.

“Etsho played for one of the top junior college programs in the country and he played for a great coach in Todd Franklin,” Metress said. “Etsho has the ability to hit the face-up jumper out to 15 feet and he’s an excellent post defender. He’s a quality kid and we’re excited about adding him to our program.”

Ilunga is the fifth 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.; Daniel Dixon, a 5-9 guard from Falls Church, Va.; and Robertas Kleiva, a 6-5 forward from Siauliai, Lithuania.

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.