ORANGEBURG, SC—South Carolina State men's basketball head coach Murray Garvin, has announced the signing of guard's Eric "EJ" Eaves, Rico Bonds  and forward Mikeal Donaldson to National Letters of Intent  for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

Eaves (6-3, 185) a combo guard from Columbia, S.C. led Dodge City Community College (Kansas) in scoring this past season with 15.6 ppg, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line. He attended Lower Richland High School and Gray's Collegiate Academy in Columbia. Eaves received offers from East Tennessee State, Long Beach State, Northern Arizona, Morgan State, UC Riverside, Sam Houston St, and Indiana University-Purdue (IPFW) before choosing South Carolina State.

Donaldson (6-7, 215) a forward from Columbia, SC and former teammate of Eaves at Gray's Collegiate Academy averaged 11.4 ppg, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks a game at Wabash Valley College (Illinois). He shot 61 percent from the field and 66 percent from the free throw line, while scoring in double figures 19 times during the 2014-15 season along with scoring a season-high 19 points and 14 rebounds. Donaldson was recruited by Sam Houston State, Evansville, Austin Peay, Arkansas Little Rock, Southern Illinois, Edwardsville, Jacksonville, Grand Canyon, Robert Morris, and Wagner before choosing South Carolina State.

Bonds (6-1, 175) a guard from Savannah, GA averaged 15.1 ppg, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists at Florida State College at Jacksonville. He shot 42 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line, while earning Rookie of the Year honors in the Mid Florida Conference. He also, helped lead Sol C. Johnson High School to the Class AAA State Championship in 2013. With three years of eligibility, Bonds was recruited by Savannah State, UMES, Middle Tenn. State, and Saint Bonaventure, NC Central before selecting South Carolina State. 

"We are elated to add EJ Eaves, Rico Bonds and Mikeal Donaldson to our program," said Garvin.  All three of these young men bring great talent and character to our basketball team. Our assistant coaches have done a tremendous job in the face of adversity to add such talented guys to our SC State family."

For more information about SC State athletics, visit at www.scsuathletics.com. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (803) 536-8579 or 1-800-298-9157.