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Syracuse loses promising sophomore Taurean Thompson

Syracuse v North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 16: Taurean Thompson #12 of the Syracuse Orange during their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 16, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Syracuse sophomore forward Taurean Thompson has withdrawn from the school, according to Syracuse.com.

Thompson was expected to play a major role for the Orange this season. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 9.2 points in just over 17 minutes as a freshman, and with Tyler Lydon and Andrew White III gone, he and Tyus Battle were going to be counted on to carry the scoring load.

“We have been informed that Taurean is taking a leave of absence from Syracuse University,” head coach Jim Boeheim said in a statement. “My understanding is he wants to go to school closer to home due to some family health issues.”

Without Thompson, the Orange will not be without six of their top seven scorers from a team that went 19-15 last season and missed out on the NCAA tournament.