Majok leaves UConn

Hailed as a future star in the months leading up to his first appearance last December, Ater Majok's UConn basketball career has ended after just 26 games.

UConn announced Wednesday that Majok has left the team and withdrawn from school.

Majok is expected to return home to Australia and attempt to begin a professional basketball career in order to support his family.

"We really feel bad about Ater leaving but we're going to look forward to the guys that are here," coach Jim Calhoun said Wednesday. "I wish him the best of luck and I hope that he solves some of his family problems, which I know he's trying to do, and I hope he finds success at the next level.

"He's good kid and we're going to miss him."

As a freshman, Majok failed to live up to unrealistic expectations, averaging just 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds while starting 22 of 26 games. He looked uncomfortable at times, never scoring more than seven points in a game. His greatest impact came on the defensive end where he blocked 42 shots.

The UConn coaching staff hoped that with some seasoning and hard work during the offseason, Majok could be a major contributor this season.

Just two months ago, Majok, a 6-foot-11 forward, spoke about looking forward to his first full season as a Husky. He practiced with the Australian national team for about two weeks and spent the remainder of the summer working out on campus.

Majok, 23, began to waver in June and finally decided that he could help his family sooner if he went pro.

His decision reportedly had nothing to do with any NCAA matters.

"No one wants to lose kids," Calhoun said. "No one wants to see kids go through the difficulties that Ater is going through. He made the decision he made and we have to move forward.

"There were a whole bunch of factors involved. It wasn't just one thing."

If the Huskies already didn't have enough on their plate - attempting to rebound from a disappointing season with a team loaded with youth and inexperience and the school preparing to meet Friday's deadline to file a response to the NCAA regarding the allegations of eight NCAA violations - they now have lost a projected starter during the first week of school.

Freshmen will be counted on to fill the void. Roscoe Smith, a 6-foot-8 forward, and 6-9 Tyler Olander, an E.O. Smith-Storrs graduate, are two prime candidates.

Other frontcourt players include 7-foot senior Charles Okwandu, 6-9 sophomore Alex Oriakhi, the most experienced player of the group, 6-10 freshman Michael Bradley and 6-7 sophomore swingman Jamal Coombs-McDaniel.

German players Niels Giffey, a 6-7 swingman, and 7-foot center Enosch Wolf are other options. Giffey finally arrived on campus Wednesday, the second day of school. Wolf needs to clear some hurdles to secure a visa before coming to Storrs.

Calhoun also has the option to go with a smaller lineup made up of three guards, including 6-5 freshman Jeremy Lamb, who's already receiving rave reviews for his sweet shooting stroke.

"We're going on with the guys that we have here and I feel very comfortable with that," Calhoun said.

g.keefe@theday.com