The Georgia Southern men’s basketball program took a huge hit for the upcoming season with the arrest of redshirt senior forward Eric Ferguson and recent graduate guard Brian Holmes.

Holmes, who started 29 games this past year for the Eagles, was arrested after local investigators executed a search warrant of a 111 South Apartment that was revealed to have marijuana, controlled prescription drugs and an “AR-15 style rifle” according to a police report from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office.

Ferguson turned himself in to the Bulloch County Sheriff earlier this week after being named as the second resident of the apartment that was searched.

Both individuals were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule II drug, possession of a schedule III drug, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession/use of a drug-related object, according to the report.

Ferguson, who is a former All-Southern Conference selection, sat out this past season after an injury forced him to take a medical redshirt. He was to be a key figure in the Eagles frontcourt heavy roster this season.

“Right now, (Ferguson) is not part of the team,” Kleinlein said in a statement on Monday. “For me, it comes down to letting the legal process take (care) of itself and then I can make a better decision but for now, I can’t have him part of our program. That’s what happens when you make poor decisions.”

With the loss of an integral piece in Head Coach Mark Byington’s plans for the upcoming season, the team will look for redshirt seniors guard Jelani Hewitt and forward Trent Wiedeman to carry an even heavier load than previously anticipated. This could also mean a quicker learning curve for sophomore forward Kyle Doyle, who appeared in 30 games for the Eagles last season along with five starts.