Kansas senior ahead Silvio De Sousa is stepping away from the Jayhawks’ basketball program “to focus all of my energies on some private points,” he wrote in a message posted to Twitter on Friday. De Sousa performed a key position throughout the staff’s 2018 Remaining 4 run and was projected to contribute off the bench this season, however his tenure at Kansas has been stuffed with “ups and downs,” as he famous in his assertion.

“I’ve made the tough resolution to choose out of this season to focus all of my energies on some private points,” De Sousa wrote. “I’ve plenty of issues weighing on my thoughts and want to deal with these by taking time for myself and stepping away from basketball. I have no idea what my subsequent plan can be proper now, however I’ll determine that when the time is correct. This was not a simple resolution to go away the basketball program, however it’s one of the best factor for me to do proper now. Thanks to all of my coaches and teammates for at all times having my again. You’ll at all times be my brothers for all times. Jayhawk nation, thanks for welcoming me and supporting me by the ups and downs. It has been very robust for me at occasions however you all have meant a lot to me.”

De Sousa joined the Jayhawks as mid-year enrollee throughout the 2017-18 season after graduating early from IMG Academy as a four-star prospect and the No. 32 general participant within the Class of 2017, based on the 247Sports Composite. However after serving to the Jayhawks advance to the Remaining 4 as a freshman, the NCAA dominated him ineligible for 2 seasons, and he sat out the whole 2018-19 season. Finally, he received an enchantment that allowed him to return to this system final season. However his junior marketing campaign hit a snag in January when he performed a outstanding position in a brawl on the finish of a Kansas win over Kansas State. His actions resulted in a 12-game suspension.

In the end, De Sousa topped out with Kansas as a bruiser off the bench, as he appeared in 38 video games whereas averaging 3.3 factors, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per sport. In a assertion launched Friday, Kansas coach Invoice Self provided his help for De Sousa’s resolution.

“In the present day, Silvio knowledgeable me he was going to choose out of the 2020-21 season and concentrate on issues in his private life,” Self stated. “Understanding Silvio, it was clear he had been distracted and never totally centered throughout exercises as of late. After he and I sat down and talked about that, it was clear this was one of the best resolution for him, and Kansas basketball, to go away this system. In some unspecified time in the future sooner or later, Silvio will determine what his subsequent steps can be and the place that can take him. Silvio has labored very onerous throughout his time right here and we’ve got stood by him all through, however we totally perceive his reasoning to take time away from basketball. We help his resolution and want him nothing however success shifting ahead.”