Maryland forward Jin Soo Choi is leaving school to return home to South Korea.

A source close to Choi said he was having difficulty balancing academics and basketball.

"After speaking with my family, we decided it would be best to continue my basketball career in Korea," Choi said in a news release. "I want to thank the coaches and especially Coach [Gary] Williams for giving me an opportunity to play basketball at a high level."

Choi, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, had played sparingly this season. He averaged 0.8 of a point and 1.1 rebounds in nine games.

A report in the Korea Times on Tuesday said Choi hopes to enter the 2010 Korean Basketball League draft, although the deadline to declare was Dec. 3.

On the court at Maryland, Choi was more comfortable playing on the outside - his shot is a strength of his game - than as a power forward.

"If I have to [play inside], I will do it," he said during a preseason interview. But he seemed never to find a comfort level.

Choi played three seasons at South Kent School in Connecticut. The NCAA declared him eligible before his freshman season after researching online correspondence courses from high school.

He was formerly known as Jin Soo Kim. He said he changed his name during the offseason in deference to his stepfather.

"We wish Jin Soo well in whatever he decides to pursue," Gary Williams said in a news release. "We appreciate the contributions he's made to our basketball program in the past two seasons."

Note:: Terps senior Greivis Vasquez was named a finalist Tuesday for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top college point guard. Vasquez, one of 20 players in the running for the award, leads Maryland in scoring (17.3 points per game) and assists (6.15 a game).