Blue Raider sophomore guard Therren Shelton-Szmidt announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from Middle Tennessee State University and leaving the men's basketball program effective immediately due to his personal commitment to his religion.
 
"I feel like I haven't been completely devoted to my God," Shelton-Szmidt said. "In my heart, I've been divided and double-minded, and as every student-athlete knows, this is pretty much a full-time job and takes a lot of our time and energy. This is something I haven't had peace with during my career. It has nothing to do with Middle Tennessee men's basketball as they have been nothing but good to me. It is a personal conviction that I feel like I need to take a step back from school and basketball and be completely devoted to God to see what His plans are. The future holds whatever His will is and this will allow me to narrow my focus. For a while I have felt a calling to leave and pursue His will, and have been praying and seeking Him in all of this. I think this is the time that I obey that and follow Him in my walk of faith for what comes next in my life."

 
Shelton-Szmidt, a Mississauga, Ontario native, played in 26 games last season for the Blue Raiders as a true freshman. In limited time, he averaged 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds per game while shooting 34.6 percent from behind the arc.
 
"Therren is a young man of high character and is well-respected by our campus community," Head Men's Basketball Nick McDevitt said. "We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."