Georgia loses guard academic reasons

Georgia basketball player Travis Leslie will miss the remainder of the Bulldogs’ season to focus on academics, the school announced Friday.

“I want to apologize to my teammates, my coaches and the Georgia fans that have supported us,” Leslie said in a prepared statement. “I just lost focus on my schoolwork, and I hope that I can get back on track as I concentrate all of my time and energy on academics.”

Georgia interim coach Pete Herrmann said it is in Leslie’s “best long-term interests” to focus fully on academics at this time.

Leslie, a freshman from Decatur, averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season. He played in 26 games, starting four.

Georgia (11-17 overall, 2-11 SEC) has three regular-season games remaining — Sunday at Arkansas, Wednesday at Kentucky and March 7 vs. South Carolina in Athens — plus the SEC tournament. The game time for the March 7 home finale has been changed to 2 p.m. and will be televised by Raycom Sports.