Sad news out of Northwestern, where former Scottsdale Christian star Kevin Coble unexpectedly decided not to return for his senior season of basketball to instead focus on graduating with a political science degree in December.

Coble sat out last year because of foot surgery, but figured to have a solid senior season as the Wildcats looked to be a team that could get into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. He’d gotten starter minutes since his freshman year and had all-Big Ten potential this fall.

It’s been an arduous college career for the 6-foot-8 Coble. In addition to missing his junior season he also dealt with his mother going through cancer.

One of the best players in a long line to play under SCA coach Bob Fredericks, Coble could flat-out shoot. He averaged 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in his Northwestern career to date, and the team won a school-record 20 games without him before they fell in the N.I.T.

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