Riley Dearring is leaving the Wisconsin men's basketball program. The third-year sophomore guard from Minnetonka High School announced the departure in a statement on his Twitter account on Sunday night.

Badgers coach Bo Ryan confirmed the departure Monday. Dearring has been granted a release to explore his options for a transfer.

"I am truly grateful to the University of Wisconsin for the opportunity, but I feel it's best for me if I continue my career elsewhere," Dearring said. "I want to thank all my current and former teammates for all the great memories! I want to thank all the fans for their support. I will cherish every second I was able to spend here but I need to move forward."

Dearring appeared in 18 games for the Badgers, playing 45 minutes and scoring 13 points. After redshirting last season, the door was open for more playing time this season on a young team. But Dearring, who was slowed by injuries his first two seasons, was quickly passed up by freshman Khalil Iverson and has played a total of six minutes in three games for the Badgers, struggling at 6-5 following back-to-back Final Fours.

The 6-foot-5 Dearring was a finalist for the Mr. Basketball award in Minnesota as a senior after averaging 19.2 points while leading Minnetonka to a 20-5 record.

Dearring is the third scholarship player to leave the Wisconsin program since the end of the 2011-12 season, joining transfers Jarrod Uthoff (Iowa) and George Marshall (South Dakota State).

• Duke forward Amile Jefferson will be out indefinitely because of an right foot injury, coach Mike Krzyzewski announced. Jefferson — the leading returning scorer from last year's team that beat Wisconsin in the national championship game — has started all nine games this year while averaging 11 points and 10 rebounds for the No. 7 Devils (8-1).

• North Carolina said junior forward Kennedy Meeks is expected not to play "for several weeks" due to a bone bruise in his left knee. The school said it wasn't clear exactly how long he would be out for the No. 11 Tar Heels. Meeks is averaging 12.3 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 60 percent through the first nine games.

• Michigan State (11-0) remained the runaway No. 1 team in the Associated Press men's basketball poll, receiving all but one first-place vote.

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