Gophers junior walk-on Stephon Sharp decided to leave the team to focus on school, according to a team spokesman.
Sharp, a former Hopkins standout, averaged 2.5 points in 24 games during two seasons at Minnesota, including four starts at point guard in 2015-16.
![Gophers guard Stephon Sharp (15) put up a shot ahead of Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) in the first half Wednesday night. ] JEFF WHEELER ' jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The University of Minnesota men's basketball team faced Wisconsin Wednesday night, March 2, 2016 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. ORG XMIT: MIN1603022058200212](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/YSI2GRV3HPD3C2J34SR5U6NU3E.jpg?&w=1080)
The Bloomington, Minn. native posted three double-digit scoring games at the end of his freshman season after being forced into a starting role when three guards were suspended for team rules violations. Sharp had a career-high 19 points in his first start at Illinois and led the team with 16 points against Wisconsin.
Last season, the 6-foot-3 Sharp appeared in nine games, but he was limited to just two minutes in Big Ten play. He will remain a student at the U and pursue a degree in sports management.
The Gophers' remaining walk-ons are sophomore guard Brady Rudrud and freshman guard Hunt Conroy, the son of Minnesota assistant Ed Conroy.
