Myzeah Batie-Gaddy and Austin Swank, who helped Iowa City West win two straight Class 4A state basketball titles, have signed letters-of-intent to continue their careers at Kirkwood Community College.

They are part of a 10-man class that includes Matt Lassen from Linn-Mar and Joe Weeks from Solon High School.

Kenny Ejim, the younger brother of Iowa State star Melvin Ejim, also will be joining the Eagles.

New Kirkwood Coach Bryan Petersen is excited about his first class.

"I feel good about it," he said Monday. "I feel like we've added what we need for the most part for next season.

"They're all good kids," he said. "I've gotten to know them the last couple of months, and I feel really good about adding them to our program and meshing with our freshmen."

Taylor Olson, Kirkwood's starting point guard this past season as a freshman, has declined offers from four-year schools and plans to play for the Eagles again next year.

Henry Uwadiae, a 6-foot-11 center from Nigeria, also plans to return to Kirkwood after being redshirted this past season. He has committed to Wichita State, which reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament this year.

J.C. Fuller and Jalen Currie also plan to return after playing prominent roles for the Eagles during the 2012-13 campaign.

"I think we have the pieces to get it going," said Petersen.

Petersen played at Kirkwood and Iowa State before moving into coaching. He was an assistant coach at Kirkwood this past season and was named the interim head coach for next year when Doug Wagemester decided to step aside as head coach.

Wagemester, the school's athletic director, will decide next year whether he wants to coach again or not. In the meantime, Petersen is the head man and making plans.

Petersen was the lead recruiter for the in-state players. He and Kirkwood assistant coach Quincy Young helped put the class together as the school made the transition from one coach to another.

Petersen said he talked to all the recruits and explained the situation.

"I'm sure they had to talk about it with their parents and really digest it all, but for the most part if went pretty smooth," he said.

Batie Gaddy, 6-5, 210, gave Iowa City West the size and strength it needed to win state titles. He averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds on a talented team.

"The biggest thing about him, he knows how to win," said Petersen. "He's a tough kid, so we're excited about him."

Swank, a shooter, averaged 9.0 points and 2.1 rebounds for the Trojans as they enjoyed their second straight undefeated campaign.

Lassen averaged 10.6 points and 3.1 rebounds at Linn-Mar. Petersen called Lassen shortly after the 6-foot-5 wingman changed his mind about attending Albany (N.Y.).

"It was a good pick-up, to be getting a local kid like that," said Petersen. "He knows how to play. He comes from a winning program."

Weeks, 6-5, averaged 12 points and seven rebounds at Solon.

Ejim, 6-5, averaged 11 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals for his team in Brampton, Ontario, Canada this season. Petersen worked with Melvin Ejim for two years at Iowa State when Petersen was a member of the coaching staff there after his playing days as a Cyclone.

"Melvin told me about him," said Petersen. "I have a really good relationship with Melvin, so I kind of went from there.

"Melvin wanted him to be down here. He wanted him to go to a junior college."

Kirkwood also has signed Aaron Lawton, 6-foot, from Westfield, Ind.; Tyler Bussell, 6-2, from Brookline, Mo.; and Joe Tagerelli, 6-5, from Waunakee, Wis.

Lawton averaged 18.2 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 steals and 4.1 rebounds at Westfield High School in Indiana. Bussell averaged 11 points and four rebounds at Kickapoo High School in Missouri. Tagerelli, a transfer from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, averaged 19.9 points and eight rebounds as a high school senior in Wisconsin. He redshirted at Wisconsin-Milwaukee this past season.

Kirkwood also is adding a pair of walk-ons with Brayton Bennett, 6-6, from Eureka, Mo., and Dominique Gibson, 6-1, a transfer from Valdosta State in Georgia. Gibson will be a sophomore at Kirkwood.

Petersen said he'd still like to sign another big man to complement Uwadiae. He said Uwadiae made good improvements in practice this season, but needs to keep working on his game.

"He's got a lot of work to do still, and he knows it," said Petersen. "He could be a handful on the blocks. He can block shots and he can really run for a guy his size."

Olson, the point guard from Cedar Rapids Jefferson, entertained offers from four-year schools but elected to stay at Kirkwood.

"We're excited to have him for another year," said Petersen.

Two members of this year's squad have found new teams for next year. Gage Heffernan, 6-4, will enroll at the University of Dubuque and Devan Douglas, 6-2, has signed with the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.