VMI head basketball coach Dan Earl announced the signings of three recruits to national letters-of-intent during the spring signing period.
Joining the Keydet basketball program for the 2016-17 season are Chuchu Enechionyia, Garrett Gilkeson and Keith Smith.
Enechionyia, a 6-6, 197-pound wing from Springfield, Va., averaged 16 points and five rebounds his senior season at South County High School and was named First Team All-Conference. He posted 11 double figures scoring games his senior year including a season-high 22 points against Lake Braddock in late February. He also made 24 three-point goals on the year and shot 78.9% from the line including a two-game stretch where he sank 18 of 19 attempts. Enechionyia, who played AAU ball for Higher Level, helped lead led South County to its first conference championship and becomes the first basketball player from that school to receive a Division I scholarship offer. A multi-star athlete, Enechionyia also caught six TD passes in one season of high school football and was a striker on the soccer team for one year. He becomes the third brother in the household to play Division I basketball.
“Chuchu is a 6’6 wing who is capable of affecting the game in a variety of ways,” says Earl “He comes from a basketball family, with his brother Obi playing at Temple and brother Nnamdi playing at St. Peter’s. We are excited about his versatility and his ability to shoot the basketball.”
Gilkeson, a 6-4, 190-pound wing from Parkersburg (W.Va.)South High School, lettered three years and finished his senior season averaging over 17.4 points a game with 6.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.1 steals per contest. During his senior year, Gilkeson helped lead his team to the Class AAA semifinals and was named First Team All-State, Depth Chart All-Wood County, All-Valley, and All-Tournament as well as being a McDonalds All-American nominee. Gilkeson, who played on the winningest team in Parkersburg South history, was also a part of a state championship game run in 2015 when he averaged 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He was named third team All-State West Virginia as a junior. The Mineral Wells, West Virginia native’s high school accolades also include two FCA Shootout MVP awards, Littler General Shootout MVP, and Court XIV Game MVP. Gilkeson played AAU ball for the West Virginia Wildcats.
“Garrett is a 6’4 guard who is a versatile player and an excellent student-athlete,” says Earl. “He was an outstanding athlete at Parkersburg South High School in WV, receiving 1st Team All-State honors in football and basketball. Garrett has a high basketball IQ and we are excited about his ability to play multiple positions for us.”
Smith, a 6-0, 170-pound point guard, played at Montverde (Florida) Academy after attending San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, California. At Montverde, Smith averaged 11 points, 6.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. At San Ramon, Smith averaged 15 points, six assists, five rebounds as a senior on the Division 1 Nor Cal and Division 1 State Championship squads and was named All-State 3rdTeam, All-State Division I 1st Team, All-Nor Cal 2nd team, and All-County and All-League 1st Team. A three year starter at San Ramon, Smith was an All-League 2nd team selection as a junior and honorable mention All-League as a sophomore. Smith played AAU ball for both NBBA and Team Super Star.
On Smith, Earl adds, “Keith is a true point guard in every sense of the word. He takes pride in making plays and creating for his teammates and has done so in a championship way throughout his high school and prep school career. We are excited about the leadership skills he will bring to our program.”
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