The UNCW men’s basketball team got an early Christmas present Nov. 14, having three high school seniors sign National Letters of Intent to spend their collegiate careers with the Seahawks.

The squad picked up 6-foot-4 guard Daniel Fountain (Woodbridge, Va.), 6-foot-6 forward Dylan Grimsley (Souix City, Iowa) and 6-foot-10 center Vladimir Kuljanin (Toronto, Ont.). The trio made verbal commitments to the program in Sept., but made it official during basketball’s early signing period.

Kuljanin, who immigrated to Canada from Sarajevo in 1995 averaged 29.5 points and 15.2 rebounds a game for his squad Forest Hills Collegiate, last season. With his size Kuljanin fills UNCW’s strong need for inside players.

Grimsley averaged 16.1 points and helped Bishop Heelan High School to the 2002 3A state championship. His AAU team, Martin Brothers, advanced to he AAU National 17-under championship.

Fountain canned 42 three-pointers for Woodbridge High School last season and earned an Honorable Mention Washington Post All-Metro choice.

McKeon named keynote speaker: Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who guided his squad to an upset World Series title and grandfather of Seahawk pitcher Zack Booker, will be the keynote speaker at UNCW’s Baseball Spring Training Banquet Jan. 31 at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside.

The event will introduce the 2004 baseball team, which is coming off last year’s NCAA appearance. Also, a silent auction of Seahawks and Major League Baseball memorabilia will be held.

Wingate honors Hancock: UNCW head women’s basketball coach Ann Hancock earned Wingate University’s Young Alumnus Award.

The Elizabethtown native is entering her fourth season at the helm of the Seahawks, served as an assistant coach at UNC, won the Woody Hays National Scholar-Athlete Award during her playing days and is in Wingate’s and the South Atlantic Conference’s Hall of Fame.

“Wingate is so cool. It’s such a neat place,” Hancock said. “What makes it special are the people. … They were more than faculty and teachers; they were friends. And they continue to follow my career and keep up with me.”

Soccer lands two honors: Men’s goalkeeper Brad Knighton and women’s Jen Truda earned All-CAA second team selections.

Knighton, who landed a spot on Soccer America’s Team of the Week, finished with a 1.02 goals against average as the Seahawks finished sixth in the CAA after finishing 2-7 in the conference last season.

Truda, a senior, lead a defense that set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season (23).