GREENVILLE, S.C. – Charlie Bussey III of Francis Marion University has been selected as the Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 academic year.
Bussey III had an outstanding year for the Patriots as he was selected Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and first team all-conference. The awards kept coming following the season as he earned all-region from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He garnered All-America honors from all of those associations as well as D2 Baseball.
The junior from Graniteville, South Carolina was selected position player of the year by the ABCA, National Player of the Year by D2 Baseball and Co-Player of the Year by Perfect Game.
"First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity, strength, and support to compete at a high level," said Bussey III. "I'm also grateful for my family, Coach Jefferson, and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and pushing me to be the best athlete and person I can be. This award means a lot to me because it is a reflection of so many people who have helped and supported me along the way!"
This season, he became one of only three players in NCAA Division II history to eclipse 100 hits and 100 runs scored in a single season. He shattered the Division II record for runs scored with 118 and 1.97 runs scored per game in a season. Bussey III also finished in a tie for 10th all-time with 113 hits in a single season.
He led the country in batting average (.489), hits (113), on-base percentage (.604), runs scored (118), and total bases (200) while ranking fifth in slugging percentage (.866) and sixth in walks (57). Bussey III reached base safely in 58-of-60 games played while leading the team with 38 multi-hit games. He is the program's all-time home run leader with 35 and has set single-season records for batting average, hits, runs scored, slugging percentage, total bases, and walks.
Bussey III was selected Conference Carolinas Player of the Week three times in 2026 and was twice tabbed NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week.
"Congrats to Charlie on being named Male Athlete of the Year for our league," Francis Marion head coach Jeff Jefferson said. "Charlie is a special player and person that will go down as one of the all-time greats at our institution, in our league and in all of college baseball! We can't wait to watch him start his track to the Big Leagues here in a couple weeks."
The Athlete of the Year Award (one male and one female each year) is the most outstanding student-athlete for the year in the league. Per Conference Carolinas Directors of Athletics vote, nominations will be accepted from member institutions to only include conference-sponsored sports and all nomination information, statistics and accomplishments are solely based on athletically-related criteria.
Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year Winners
2025-26 – Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion
2024-25 – Dominic Nutter, Mount Olive
2023-24 – KJ Jones II, Emmanuel
2022-23 – Tanner Halvorson, Barton
2021-22 – Reece Fields, North Greenville
2020-21 – John Michael Faile, North Greenville
2019-20 – Jordan Floyd, King
2018-19 – Utah Jones, North Greenville
2017-18 – Adam Craig, Mount Olive
2016-17 – Kevin Reisman, Limestone
2015-16 – Mike Messenger, Limestone
2014-15 – Kevin Reisman, Limestone
2013-14 – Bradon Reitano, Mount Olive
2012-13 – Riley Loewen, Limestone
2011-12 – Jake Ternosky, Limestone
2010-11 – Carter Capps, Mount Olive
2009-10 – Bryan Fogle, Erskine
2008-09 – Michael Crouch, Queens
2007-08 – Jason Sherrer, Mount Olive
2006-07 – Anthony Atkinson, Barton
2005-06 – Brock Godwin, Barton
2004-05 – Casey Smith, Erskine
2003-04 – Spencer Ross, Queens
2002-03 – Andrew McArthur, Pfeiffer
2001-02 – Ben Case, Pfeiffer
2000-01 – Colin Ducharme, Longwood
1999-00 – Nem Sovic, Pfeiffer
1998-99 – Todd Bailess, Barton
1997-98 – Soce Faye, Queens
1996-97 – Dan Shanks, Coker
1995-96 – Brett Speight, High Point