Shawn Lester to leave 49ers for Pro Ball
In a busy off-season for the Charlotte 49ers, the team has lost another player as guard Shawn Lester will be leaving the team to turn professional according to David Scott of the Charlotte Observer. Lester was academically ineligible in the 2012-3 season, but was second on the team in points last year. Lester will sign with an agent and probably head to Europe or possibly the D-League. Scott made no mention whether academics played any role in this decision.
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What Scott did mention was the growing number of 49ers who want minutes in the backcourt. Point guard Pierria Henry and shooting guard Terrance Williams both returned, and they were the starters. Transfer Braxton Ogbueze from Florida is now eligible. There are also two incoming freshmen who may earn time in Keyshawn Woods and Torin Dorn. Scott seemed to believe that it was much more likely that Lester saw the handwriting on the wall for his minutes.
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The 49ers have now lost three contributors from last year’s squad as Marcus Bryan and Denzel Ingram had both already transferred to UNC-Wilmington. The amazing thing is that all this turnover means the 49ers still have four returning starters. The team was picked third in the Conference USA preseason rankings and I don’t see that changing much with the loss of Lester.
More importantly, coach Alan Major is back from his leave of absence for eye surgeries and a heart surgery. It will be interesting to see how Major builds this team in the future, because he seems to be getting a fair amount of SEC transfers for one reason or another.
The Charlotte 49ers’ first basketball game is against Newberry College on November 11, and the first real game will be against the Elon Phoenix on the sixteenth of November.