Already hurt by the departure of six seniors, the Mississippi State basketball program took another hit when freshman Charles Rhodes announced he was transferring over the weekend.
Rhodes, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward, confirmed only one of the swirling rumors that have encircled the basketball team since the start of the off-season.
The futures remain unclear for point guard Gary Ervin, freshmen Jerrell Houston and Walter Sharpe.
Ervin and Sharpe have publicly announced the possibility of transferring.
Ervin has stated on multiple occasions that he will meet with head coach Rick Stansbury soon, and that the meeting will be the deciding factor in his departure.
Sharpe, on the other hand, told The Clarion-Ledger’s Ian Rapoport Saturday he will “more than likely” be transferring from State, apparently, following the lead of Rhodes who Friday night told Rapoport that he will definitely be transferring elsewhere.
“I’d like to announce I’ll be transferring from Mississippi State,” Rhodes told Rapoport.
The freshman gave no reason for his decision to leave and did not comment on the other uncertainties on the team.
A phone call to Rick Stansbury was not returned and all other basketball officials refused to be interviewed.
Rhodes appeared in 16 games for Mississippi State, averaging less than three points and two rebounds per outing. He made almost 60 percent of his shots, hitting 19 of 32 from the field.
Rhodes would have likely been a key player on a young but talented team next year. The Bulldogs’ incoming class includes Reginald Delk and Richard Delk (both four star recruits by Rivals.com), Monta Ellis, (five star), Vernon Goodridge (four star), Jamont Gordon (five star) and Bernard Rimmer (three star).
If Houston and Sharpe were to follow Rhodes and leave State, the Bulldogs would be left with only one signee, Jamall Edmonson, from Rick Stansbury’s 18-ranked 2004 recruiting class.