After averaging 11.3 points per game as a sophomore at Illinois State last season, 6-foot-4 guard Zach Lofton transferred to Minnesota with hopes of supplying head coach Richard Pitino with some additional depth on the perimeter when he became eligible in 2015-16. Unfortunately for Lofton that won’t be happening, as it was reported by Amelia Rayno of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that the guard has been dismissed from the program.
Lofton’s scoring average at Illinois State last season was solid, but he struggled from a shooting standpoint as he made just under 34 percent of his field goal attempts. Lofton’s dismissal means that Minnesota has one less option with Division I experience when it comes to accounting for the eventual loss of Dre Mathieu and Andre Hollins, as both of those players are seniors.
However it should be noted that Minnesota has received verbal commitments from three guards in the Class of 2015, Kevin Dorsey, Jarvis Johnson and Dupree McBrayer. The Gophers also have three scholarship guards on the current roster who will have eligibility remaining in 2015: freshman Nate Mason, sophomore Daquien McNeil and junior Carlos Morris.