Backup cnter Bawa Muniru has decided to leave the Indiana men’s basketball team, the school announced Thursday.

Muniru played in 19 games as a freshman. He averaged 3.3 minutes.

“I feel it is my best interest to pursue my basketball career somewhere else,” Muniru said in a statement. “I have appreciated my time at Indiana.”

Muniru averaged 0.6 points and 0.7 rebounds. He will finish his summer coursework at Indiana.

“As a staff, we think the best thing for Bawa is to go to a program where he can play and continue his education,” IU coach Tom Crean said in a statement. “His desire for more playing time was very evident and we told him that his best opportunity to play the minutes he wanted to was likely going to have to happen somewhere else.

“We always want to give our players the best opportunity to grow as a player and a person. He has worked extremely hard in the classroom and we appreciate all that he has done in representing the program.”