Patriot Men Ink Georgia Basketball Forward

FLORENCE, S.C. -- Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced the addition of Ziyadah Carter of Columbus, Ga., to the Patriot hoop squad. Carter is transferring from South Georgia Technical College and will have two years of eligibility.

Carter, a 6-5 215-pound forward, is a product of Spencer High School in Columbus.

This past season at South Georgia Tech, he averaged 15.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while earning second-team GJCAA All-Conference honors. He connected on 52.4 percent of his field goal attempts, including 41.1 percent from three-point range. He helped lead the Jets to an 18-12 record, one year after helping South Georgia Tech win the GJCAA regular-season crown.

"Ziyadah is a huge part of our rebuilding process and a vital cog in this year’s recruiting class,” Edwards said. “He is a powerful player around the basket that can also step out and shoot the jumper. He is multi-dimensional, adds immediate college experience to our roster, and could be a great player in the Peach Belt (Conference) this coming season.”

Francis Marion concluded the 2006-07 season, Edwards’ first on the Patriot bench, with a 9-19 mark. The Patriots lost four seniors from that squad.

During last fall’s early signing period, Edwards inked 6-4 wing player Simel Boyd of Ridgeville and 6-7 forward David Turner of Goose Creek.