Dec. 30, 2006

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman College men's basketball player Sam Barber has elected not to return to the basketball program affectively immediately. Barber had sat out three of the first four games this season due to a hand injury that he sustained just before the first game of the 2006-07 campaign against Florida Tech.

"Sam [Barber] and I have come to a mutual agreement that it is time for him to part ways from the men's basketball program here at Bethune-Cookman College for philosophical reasons," exclaims fifth-year head coach of the Wildcats, Clifford Reed, Jr.

Barber, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior forward from Palm Beach, Fla., transferred into the Wildcats program a year ago from the University of South Florida. He was the third-leading scorer for the `Cats from a year ago with 319 points (11.4 ppg). He also ended the 2005-06 campaign as the team's third-best rebounding performer with 150 rebounds (5.4 rpg). Barber entered the 2006-07 season as a Second Team Preseason All-MEAC selection.

"We look forward to him remaining in school on scholarship to finish his degree," states B-CC Director of Athletics, Lynn W. Thompson.