Penn State basketball suffered a major loss today, as redshirt junior guard Jermaine Marshall has decided to forgo his final season of eligibility to play professionally, per GoPSUSports.

Marshall, who will graduate this summer and was a team captain for the 2012-13 season, was second on the team with 15.3 points per game. He also led the Nittany Lions in scoring 14 times last season, which was the most on the team.

Marshall would have been the third highest returning scorer in the Big Ten, behind teammates Tim Frazier and DJ Newbill. Marshall and Newbill were also named All-Big Ten Honorable Mentions.

“Jermaine and I have had several discussions recently regarding his plans for the future and he feels strongly that graduating and entering the professional world at the conclusion of the summer is in the best interest of his son and his family,” Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said in a press release. “We thank Jermaine for his contributions to our program and wish him the best of luck.”

Added Marshall, “I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and basketball staff as well as the faculty and fans of Penn State. I truly enjoyed my four years at the University and learned a great deal from all of them. This is a difficult decision, but I want to provide for my son and feel the best decision for me and my family is to graduate and enter the professional world this summer.”

While losing Marshall will undoubtedly hurt Penn State and their chances at making the NCAA Tournament, this should open up more opportunities for highly-touted freshmen Geno Thorpe and Graham Woodward. Losing Marshall also frees up an extra scholarship for Chambers, which could be used on a transfer graduate student with immediate eligibility or an incoming freshman.