The Missouri basketball team will open its season with one fewer body in the backcourt with the announcement Friday afternoon that junior guard Martavian Payne is stepping away from the team to focus on his academic work.
“Martavian Payne came to me requesting he take time away from basketball to concentrate on his academic pursuits,” Coach Kim Anderson said in a statement. “At this time, I agree that is in his best interests, as his academic success is our main objective. We will continue to monitor and evaluate Martavian’s status going forward.”
Anderson’s statement leaves open the possibility that Payne could return to the program at a later date, but if he doesn’t, his departure would clear up Missouri’s scholarship situation next year.
http://www.columbiatribune.com/sports/mu_basketball/payne-stepping-away-from-missouri-basketball-team/article_415f6573-7ed1-54aa-9ab4-c3b80caa402e.html
I don't have any idea if he actually stayed around the rest of the semester. Not sure the transfer eligibility rules for Graceland at the NAIA level.