web Charlotte

Nov. 10, 2009

Halton Arena - Charlotte 49ers freshman guard Gokhan Sirin (Istanbul, Turkey; St. Mary's Ryken H.S.) will serve a one-game NCAA suspension for participation with a professional club team. Sirin, a native of Istanbul, Turkey, will miss the 49ers season-opener vs. UNC Asheville, Friday, Nov. 13.

Sirin averaged 17 points and seven rebounds at St. Mary's Ryken High in the highly-competitive Washington (D.C.) Catholic Athletic Conference. He led the league in three-pointers made per game.

In addition, the 49ers will be without junior wing An'Juan Wilderness (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody H.S.) for the season-opener. Wilderness will be out for 2-4 weeks with a left calf strain. A two-year starter, Wilderness averaged 7.9 points and 3.7 rebounds as a sophomore.

Updates of other injuries include senior point guard DiJuan Harris (Charlotte, N.C./Victory Christian H.S.) being listed as day-to-day with a right ankle sprain suffered in practice Friday. Red-shirt freshman Shamarr Bowden (Greensboro, N.C./The Miller School), who suffered a dislocated left shoulder Oct. 24, is probable for Friday night's season-opener. Bowden was expected to miss three weeks but returned to workouts slightly ahead of schedule. He will play with a shoulder harness to protect the shoulder. Junior Charles Dewhurst (Charlotte, N.C./Latin H.S.) has been given the green light to play in games without his knee brace. Dewhurst, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last January, will continue to wear the protective brace in practice.

Charlotte opens the 2009-10 season Friday night vs. UNC Asheville at 7:30 p.m. at Halton Arena. Bobby Lutz will be looking for his 200th win as the 49ers head coach. Already the 49ers all-time winningest coach, Lutz owns a 199-146 career record with the 49ers.

-- charlotte49ers.com --