Six years ago, the Cameroon native moved to Texas with his twin sister and they lived with their aunt and uncle. He would attend Byron Nelson High, just outside of Dallas.

The raw Charles Lampten, who didn’t start playing organized basketball until he arrived in the United States, didn’t field a single D-I offer out of high school. When he went to a basketball camp at Baylor, Bears staffer Bill Peterson connected him with the coach at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana.

“Nobody wanted me,” Lampten said.

Lampten played two seasons at Dawson, averaging 5.0 points and 5.0 boards as a freshman and 10.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a sophomore. After the season, Northwestern State, Chicago State and San Jose State all showed interest — along with Charleston.

“I chose Charleston because of the style, the passion, the city, and the history Coach Kelsey had back in Winthrop,” Lampten said. “It was the perfect fit for me.”

Lampten came to Charleston in 2021 and played a role, giving the Cougars length, size and a shot-blocking presence up front. He’s come off the bench, putting up modest numbers but averaging 12.1 rebounds per 40 minutes this season.

“Chuck’s a rim presence, tough, and a great defender,” Pat Kelsey said.

“I count my blessings every day,” Lampten said. “It definitely hits me every single day how far I’ve come. I appreciate it every day.”