BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Two of Campbell University's early signees in men's basketball went on to win state championships this year and another led his team to a second-round showing in the state playoffs. Head coach Robbie Laing hopes that success will carry over to the Fighting Camel careers of Amir Celestin, P.J. Meyers and Chris Reynolds.

Celestin was named MVP of the 2008 Florida 6-A state title game while leading Miami Norland High School to its second state crown in three years. Reynolds led Augusta Glenn Hills High School to 24-consecutive victories and the Georgia 3-A state championship. Meyers guided Augusta (Ga.) Josey High School to a Region 2-A runner-up showing and a 26-4 record this winter. All three signed with the Camels during the early recruitment period last fall.

"Collectively, all three of these guys meet the criteria we were searching for – to return to a more up-tempo style of play," said Laing, who is entering his sixth year in charge of the Camel program. "As we continue to address our needs in the spring recruiting period, we'll continue to focus on our style. These three are the first blocks of our up-tempo style heading into our new arena. We expect all three to figure heavily into next year's success"

A 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard, Celestin helped his team compile a 77-17 won-lost record over his three-year varsity career that included state titles in 2006 and 2008. He scored 18 points – including 13-straight in a decisive 22-7 third quarter run – to lead Norland to a 59-54 victory over Boyd Anderson, which was ranked 20th nationally by the National Prep Basketball Poll, in the Florida 6-A finals.

Celestin finished his senior year with averages of 10.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, while connecting on 47 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts for Coach Lawton Williams' Vikings, who finished the year with a 27-6 record. He was named to the all-state and All-Dade County team and selected to participate in the Miami-Dade All-Star games against the Broward County and Palm Beach County all-stars.

As a junior, Celestin was named team MVP while contributing 14.2 points, 3.2 assists and hitting 53 percent of his threes for a 22-5 club. In addition to his prep basketball accomplishments, Celestin is a member of the highly-regarded Florida Rams AAU program, which produced the likes of NBA performers Amare Stoudemire, Travis Outlaw and Renaldo Balkman.

"Amir is a combo guard who brings great on-court moxie to our team," said Laing. "He knows how to win, is a defensive stopper, but makes winning plays on the offensive end as well."

Teammates on the Augusta Metro AAU club, Reynolds and Meyers both led their high school teams to success during their prep careers.

A 6-foot-5, 190-pound wing forward, Reynolds was a all-state selection as a senior when he contributed 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds to Glenn Hills' 29-2 state title squad. He shared team MVP honors in each of his final three prep campaigns, and won all-region and all-area recognition three times. His career-high high school scoring effort was a school-record 39 points.

Over his final two prep seasons, Reynolds helped guide Coach Richard Wallace's Spartans to a combined 54-6 won-lost record and two regional crowns. Glenn Hills defeated Carver-Columbus 64-57 in the Georgia 6-A final.

"Chris is a no-position guy, just a player," said Laing. "He runs, rebounds, defends and can score in a variety of ways inside and behind the arc."

A three-sport standout who earned nine prep letters in basketball, football and baseball, Meyers was a two-time all-region performer on the hardwood for Coach Shawn Parks' Eagles. During the 2008 season, the 5-foot-7, 148-pound point guard contributed 12 points and 10 assists to Josey High School's regional runner-up squad.

As a junior, Meyers chipped in 14 points and seven assists for a regional championship club, which also advanced to the second round of the state tournament.

In addition to his basketball accomplishments, Meyers has earned all-area and all-region honors in baseball and all-area recognition on the football team. He has also captained both the baseball and football squads. He led Josey in tackles with 67 as a senior.

"P.J. is electric, make-something-happen point guard," said Laing. "He's jet-quick and could be a great catalyst for what we're trying to do with the future of our program. Not only does he get to the bucket, but he can stop and score behind the three-point line as well."

Celestine, Reynolds and Meyers will join a returning group that includes five of CU's top seven scorers from the 2007-08 squad. Heading the list of returnees is forward Jonathan Rodriguez, who earned first-team Atlantic Sun all-conference honors in each of his first two collegiate seasons.

Campbell (10-20 overall in 2007-08) has won double figure games in each of the last three years, the first time the program has accomplished that feat since 1996-98. Coach Laing expects to add at least three more recruits during the 2008 spring signing period.