Gophers junior walk-on Stephon Sharp decided to leave the men's basketball team to focus on school, according to a team spokesman.
Sharp, a former Hopkins standout, averaged 2.5 points in 24 games during his two seasons, including four starts at point guard in 2015-16.
The Bloomington 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 6-3 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.
MARCUS FULLER
