Southeast Missouri State University's basketball backcourt will now include one less player for the 2001-2002 season.

Indians' head coach Gary Garner announced Tuesday that sophomore guard Joel Shelton has left the team for personal reasons.

Shelton averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 assists per game while playing a reserve role as a true freshman at Southeast last season. As a senior at Vashon High School in St. Louis, Shelton was named Mr. Show Me Basketball for Missouri as he helped lead Vashon to the Class 4A state title.

"Joel had some personal problems in St. Louis and he wasn't quite living up to his academic responsibilities early that all of our players need to live up to," said Garner. "It was mutual between he and I and we think this is in his best interests and our best interests. We wish him the best of luck."

Shelton played both the point guard and shooting guard positions for the Indians last year and he was expected to back up junior-college transfer Kenny Johnson at the point this season. Garner said freshmen Brett Hale and Derek Winans will be worked into the mix at point guard.

"I feel good about our guards," Garner said. "We were planning on Kenny Johnson being the starting point guard. Now Brett and Derek, one of those two or both, will have to play some point but that could really work out the best for us in the long run."

Garner also said he has started a nationwide search to replace assistant coach Chris Lowery, who resigned last week to accept a similar position at Southern Illinois-Carbondale.