Junior guard Haanif Cheatham leaving Marquette

Junior guard Haanif Cheatham is leaving the Marquette men's basketball team for personal reasons, according to a release from the school on Monday.

Cheatham started all five games for the Golden Eagles (3-2) this season, averaging 8.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

“Haany and I met over the weekend and he informed me that he had a family matter. Obviously, I'm not at liberty to discuss that publicly. But he felt like it was in his best interest to move closer to home, to be near his family during this time. We certainly wish Haany the best,” MU head coach Steve Wojciechowski said after the Golden Eagles' 86-83 victory over Eastern Illinois.

Wojciechowski expects Cheatham to transfer to a school in the guard's home state of Florida.

The 6-foot-5 Cheatham, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was one of MU's most experienced players and also a versatile defender.

MU sophomore Sacar Anim will likely step into Cheatham's starting role. Cheatham's departure also could open up more playing time for freshmen Greg Elliott and Jamal Cain.

Cheatham was out for six weeks in the preseason with a shoulder injury but returned to action in the closed-door scrimmage with Northwestern. In the regular season, he shot 16 of 37 and was averaging 26.2 minutes per game.

He had started 63 of the 70 games during his time with the Golden Eagles.

Wojciechowski has seen a lot of roster upheaval since taking over as head coach in 2014.

Duane Wilson, Traci Carter, Wally Ellenson, Sandy Cohen, Steve Taylor Jr., John Dawson and Deonte Burton all left the team under Wojciechowski. Only Cheatham, Carter and Ellenson were recruited by Wojciechowski.

Also since 2014, Henry Ellenson opted for the NBA after one season at MU while Gabe Levin and Todd Mayo left the Golden Eagles before ever suiting up for Wojciechowski.