BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State's  2016 men's basketball recruiting class is off to a great start.

Head coach Todd Bozeman has announced the signings of Azariah Sykes, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward at Millwood High School (Richmond, Va.), and Tyjhai Byers, 6-foot-10, 190-pound center at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, who have both signed National Letters of of Intent (NLI's) to attend school and play basketball at Morgan State University.

"We are very excited to add two outstanding student-athletes to the program," said Bozeman. "Tyjhai and Azariah gives us athletic size, length, character and two young men that are passionate about Morgan and being apart of of our family."
 
In Sykes, Bozeman gets an athletic combo forward with a well-rounded game, good ball skills and a soft touch around the basket.

Sykes verbally committed to Morgan State during the Bears homecoming festivities on Saturday, October 17.
 
Sykes, who will play out his senior year of high school at Millwood High School, should be an immediate impact player for MSU a year from now.
 
Millwood, a Chesterfield County private school, is in its second season of varsity basketball. In their first, the Bobcats won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III state title.

Byers is a long, athletic big that has a high motor and a good feel for the game around the basket.

"He has blossomed into a great rebounder and a tremendous shot blocker," said B-CC coach Sean Tracy. "He is very passionate about the game and yearns to get better every time he steps on the court."

"He has a tremendous upside; his best basketball is definitely ahead of him."

As a junior, Byers averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game to help lead the Barons to a 21-6 record, their first regional title since 2008, and a state championship appearance.

The Bears go back on the road when they face the Old Dominion Monarchs (2-0) on Wednesday at  7 p.m.

The 2015-16 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 7-12 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. For more information on MEAC Men's Basketball, log on to www.MEACsports.com.