Indiana G Ratliff won't return

Feb 12, 2008 - 9:00 PM BLOOMINGTON, Indiana (Ticker) -- The career of Indiana senior guard A.J. Ratliff appears to be over.

Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson said Tuesday that Ratliff, who has played in only nine games this season, would not return to the team due to personal reasons.

"Both of us agreed that it was in his best interests to focus on himself and to work through his personal issues," Sampson said in a statement released by the school. "We wish him the best."

Ratliff missed the first 10 games of the season after being declared academically ineligible and sat out three additional games due to an ankle injury.

"A.J. is going through a lot of personal issues that are bigger than anything he has ever faced before," Stephanie Gilbert, Ratliff's legal guardian, told the Indianapolis Star.

"We completely support the university in how they've tried to help A.J. as well as everything coach Sampson has done for him."

Gilbert did not identify the nature of Ratliff's personal issues.

Ratliff did not play in Sunday's 59-53 win at Ohio State, the second straight contest he missed. After that game, Sampson said Ratliff's issues did not involve academics or a legal matter.

Ratliff's average dropped from 9.3 points per game as a junior to just 1.7 this season. He finished his Indiana career with a 5.8 scoring average in 93 games, including 39 starts.