Arizona guard Elliott Pitts leaves team for the rest of the 2015-16 season
Feb 17, 2016, 10:31 PM | Updated: 11:00 pm
Arizona's Elliott Pitts (24) grabs a rebound over Oregon's Dwayne Benjamin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Pac-12 conference tournament Saturday, March 14, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Arizona Wildcats guard Elliott Pitts has left the program for the remainder of the 2015-16 season because of personal reasons, and it’s unclear if the junior will return to the team next season, UA head coach Sean Miller said Wednesday.
Miller says it was Pitts' choice, but did not elaborate on if he would be back next season.
— Jason Scheer (@JasonScheer) February 18, 2016
Pitts appeared in the first eight games this year but Miller has not been able to specify why the three-point shooter was sidelined. Pitts had appeared on the Wildcats’ bench during his absence but decided that it was his best interest to leave the team.
"Him and I both felt that it would be in his best interest to focus on the task at hand academically and obviously remain here …
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) February 18, 2016
Pitts will finish out the academic year at Arizona, Miller said after his team’s 99-61 win against Arizona State.
The 6-foot-5 guard shot 39 percent from three and 37 percent in his first two seasons. He averaged 21 minutes per game in 2015-16 but struggled with his stroke, hitting 27 percent overall and 13 percent from three.
Arizona’s win Wednesday moved it to 22-5 on the year. Without Pitts, the Wildcats have filled the shooting lost with five players shooting 35 percent or better from deep.
