Daren Tielsch has left the Penn State men's basketball team and withdrawn from the university to return home to be with his ill father.
Tielsch's father, James, has recently suffered a heart attack and is going through tough times, including difficulties in getting around. Tielsch, a sophomore forward from McKees Rocks, is home right now with his family and his father.
"I haven't been feeling well," James Tielsch said. "He came home to help me out, and thought it was the best thing to do. Nothing else mattered to him, and it was a decision he came to by himself."
Tielsch has not discussed any future plans or whether he will continue his basketball career at Penn State or any other school with his family, James Tielsch said.
Tielsch was not available for comment.
On Friday night, Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn announced Tielsch's departure and expressed that Tielsch did not mention transferring at all.
"We are all saddened by Daren's sudden departure but we wish him nothing but the very best," Dunn said. "He is a great kid and was a fine member of the Penn State basketball family and we all wish him well."
In the annual Blue and White scrimmage, Tielsch led all scorers with 12 points. He also added five rebounds and three steals while handing out three assists.
Tielsch practiced all last week, but he did not play in the Nittany Lions' exhibition opener against EA Sports All-Stars. Dunn attributed Tielsch's absence to personal problems.
Tielsch saw substantial minutes in his freshman campaign as he started nine games, including the first eight games of the season. He averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Tielsch had a career-high 14-point output in December against Bucknell and a career-high nine rebounds against Wisconsin in early January. He finished second on the Lions last season in offensive rebounds with 40, and trailed only Jan Jagla by five.
Tielsch was slated to be starter in the Lions' front court alongside returning sophomore starter Jan Jagla. The candidates likely to replace Tielsch are sophomores Jason McDougald and Kevin Fellows and junior Ndu Egekeze.
Tielsch was a third-team all-state selection his senior year, and a Prep Star All-American. He is the all-time leading scorer in Montour H.S. history.
