The University of Maine men’s basketball team is expecting big things from the 2006-07 season, but the Black Bears have been dealt an early setback with the loss of their starting point guard.

UMaine athletic director Blake James confirmed Friday that junior college transfer Rashard Turner has decided to transfer from UMaine.

“He decided to transfer before school started this year,” James said. “Why? I’m not sure, to be honest. I guess for personal reasons he decided to leave.”

Turner started 27 of the team’s 28 games last season, averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game. He was the team’s second-leading scorer and averaged the second-most minutes at 32.6 per game.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior transferred to Maine from Monroe Community College last year after leading Monroe to the Region XV National Junior College Athletic Association Championship and a 25-8 record.

“Any time we lose a student-athlete, I would say I’m disappointed,” James said. “I would hope that all of our student-athletes stay here until they receive their degree… And anytime you lose one it’s frustrating and disappointing.”

Turner, 23, was reportedly involved in an off-campus incident at local night club Ushuaia in Orono in the early hours of Sept. 3. The Peekskill, N.Y., native was arrested and charged with two counts of Class D assault and one count of Class D criminal threatening. A Class D crime is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy confirmed the charges against Turner, referring to a report in which Turner is alleged to have violently grabbed girlfriend Danielle Hubbard, 21, a junior guard on the UMaine women’s basketball team. Turner also allegedly threatened and assaulted Ushuaia employee Armen Brown.

Hubbard allegedly hit officer Chris Foxforthy as Turner was being arrested, but Almy said “no charges are pending against her at this point.”

Hubbard has been suspended from the team indefinitely, pending the outcome of the incident, according to UMaine assistant athletic director for public relations Brent Williamson. Turner is due to appear in Bangor District Court at 2 p.m. on Oct. 12.