Point guard Shelton Mitchell transferring from Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Point guard Shelton Mitchell is transferring from Vanderbilt.

In a university statement released Thursday, Mitchell said he was leaving for personal reasons.

Mitchell said that ''I loved my basketball experience at Vanderbilt playing for Coach (Kevin) Stallings and his staff and with a great group of guys we have on this team. However, I feel it is in my best interests to continue my college education elsewhere.''

Mitchell, a 6-foot-3 guard from Waxhaw, North Carolina, averaged 4.3 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds as a freshman this season. He played 31 games and made 11 starts while helping Vanderbilt go 21-14 and reach the NIT quarterfinals.