MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama men's basketball head coach Matthew Graves has added to his incoming 2017-18 class with the announcement of Rodrick Sikes signing a National Letter of Intent Wednesday.

A 6-foot-1 shooting guard from Southwest Mississippi Community College, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Sikes joins Joe Thompson and A.J. Caldwell, who signed with the program in November.

"We are very pleased to add Rodrick to our roster for the upcoming season," Graves said. "Coach (Russ) Willemsen did a great job identifying him early in the process as a person who really fits the student-athlete profile we want here at South Alabama."

A native of Ocean Springs, Miss., Sikes spent the last two seasons at SMCC, where he averaged 22.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in his sophomore season. He shot 49.2 percent from the floor, 38.8 percent from 3-point territory and converted 74.6 percent at the free-throw line, earning him NJCAA All-Region 23 honors.

His scoring average ranked in a tie for ninth in NJCAA Division I.

As a freshman, Sikes put up 9.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest, helping the Bears win their first state title since 1962-63, and earned MVP honors in the Mississippi junior college state tournament.

A three-time South Mississippi All-Star, Sikes averaged 19.4 points and 5.2 rebounds as a senior for St. Martin High School, and was named 6A all-state honorable mention and to the Biloxi Sun Herald's All-South Mississippi team. That season, he led the Yellow Jackets to a 23-9 record and an appearance in the state quarterfinals.

"Rodrick brings a great ability to shoot the basketball from 3-point range and enhances our athleticism on the perimeter," Graves added. "I am very excited to begin working with him this summer."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—