AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State men's basketball head coach Dip Metress announced Friday that Virginia prep product Travis Keels has signed with the program and will join the Jaguars for the Fall, 2008 semester.

A 6-8, 175-pound forward, Keels averaged 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a senior at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. Keels earned All-District, First Team honors and was also an All-Richmond Metro selection. He is the first signee for the 2008-09 Jaguar recruiting class.

“Travis has a bright future here at ASU,” Metress said. “Travis is very long and helped lead the Skyhawks of LC Bird to a District Title. As he gets stronger he will be able to impact the game at the college level. We are excited about him joining the Jaguars.”

ASU enjoyed the most successful season in school history in 2007-08, advancing to the NCAA Tournament National Championship game and equaled the school record for wins in a season with 27. The Jags captured the South Atlantic Regional Championship – the first in school history – and finished the season ranked No. 10 in the nation by the NABC.

ASU returns three starters and eight lettermen, including a pair of two-time All-Peach Belt Conference selections in senior center Garret Siler and junior guard Ben Madgen.