Bucs sign four, lose Carter

Charleston Southern is adding four basketball players for next season, but is losing one of its young stars from last season.

Bucs head basketball coach Barclay Radebaugh released the names of four players who signed Wednesday, the same day he announced that sophomore Omar Carter has decided to transfer to another school.

Carter, a 6-5 forward from Charlotte, averaged 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in two seasons at CSU. He was the 2007-08 Big South freshman player of the year.

"After a number of conversations at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, Omar Carter and I came to a mutual decision that he would be best served to finish the final two years of eligibility at another institution," said Radebaugh. "I want to thank Omar for his contributions to our basketball program and wish him the very best."

Carter has not decided where he will attend school next year.

Carter's departure will make another scholarship available to Radebaugh, who signed three incoming freshmen and a junior college transfer on Wednesday.

"We feel like this group of players brings in the qualities and skills we desire at CSU," said Radebaugh, who recently completed his fourth season at the school. "Each of them has displayed the strong character we want in our program. They also are skilled fundamental players that love the game and want to work to get better. Lastly, they each come from winning programs."

The lone junior college signee is guard Stanley Honorat. He played the last two seasons at Indian River State College (Fort Pierce, Fla.), where he averaged 16 points per game last season.

Jeremy Sexton of Tennessee Temple Academy in Chattanooga is also a guard. He was the runner-up for the state's Mr. Basketball award and scored more than 2,100 career points. He averaged 18 points and eight assists on a team that finished 28-7 and was a state finalist this season.

Providing immediate help in the post will be 6-9 center Patrick Shaughnessy of Grace Christian in Hixson, Tennessee. Shaughnessy averaged 14 points and nine rebounds per game and was selected to play in the Tennessee State All-Star game.

Rounding out the class is 6-5 forward Tom Tankelewicz of Middle Creek High School in Apex, N.C. Tankelewicz averaged 19 points and six rebounds last season, making a school-record 87 three-pointers. He scored 14 points in the N.C./S.C. all-star game, setting a classic record with four 3-pointers.

The Bucs return starting guards Tovi Bailey and Jamarco Warren, both rising juniors and two-year starters, as well as starting forward Kelvin Martin, who averaged nine points as seven rebounds as a true freshman last season. Warren led the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game, connecting on a school record 99 3-pointers.