Ex-Salisbury basketball star Spears '06 headed to 49ers?

jutter@charlotteobserver.com

Gerry Broome/AP photo

Maryland's James Gist, left, and Boston College's Shamari Spears fight for a rebound in an Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament game at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte Thursday, March 13, 2008.

Former Salisbury High standout and former Observer Piedmont Player of the Year Shamari Spears is transferring from Boston College with Charlotte the front-runner to be his destination, the Observer has learned.

Boston College school officials confirmed Spears received a release from his scholarship to pursue a transfer. Officials declined to name the school.

Spears, a 6-foot-6, 238-pound forward who started 17 of 28 games this season, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but sources said the Charlotte 49ers likely could be where he ends up with. Spears would have to sit out one season but would have two years of eligibility remaining.

This season, Spears averaged 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds and shot 49.3 percent from field while averaging 26.9 minutes per game.

As a sophomore at Salisbury, Spears was named first team all-Observer and Observer Piedmont Player of the Year. That season he averaged 27.3 points per game, scoring 40 or more points five times.

Spears transferred to Blair Academy in New Jersey and redid his sophomore season. He finished second on Blair's career scoring list behind former Duke star and current NBA player Luol Deng.