Lions lose Marshall for 2013-14 season

Penn State fifth-year senior guard Jermaine Marshall has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility with the Nittany Lions in favor of a career, the men's basketball team announced Wednesday afternoon on GoPSUSports.com and Twitter.

"Jermaine and I have had several discussions recently regarding his plans for the future and he feels strongly that graduating and entering the professional world at the conclusion of the summer is in the best interest of his son and his family," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said via press release. "We thank Jermaine for his contributions to our program and wish him the best of luck."

Coming off a breakout junior season in which he posted 15.3 points per game and a team-best 59 three-pointers, second in scoring only to D.J. Newbill, Marshall was considered to be one of the cogs of a Nittany Lions' team returning the two top scorers in the Big Ten from a season ago.

That number is now one, as Marshall's departure leaves Newbill to team up with returning fifth-year senior point guard Tim Frazier, who is participating with the team this summer coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon last November.

"I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and basketball staff as well as the faculty and fans of Penn State," Marshall said via press release. "I truly enjoyed my four years at the University and learned a great deal from all of them. This is a difficult decision, but I want to provide for my son and feel the best decision for me and my family is to graduate and enter the professional world this summer."

Marshall caps his career with a total of 880 points in 90 appearances.