Arizona's roster is back down to 10 available players, as sophomore Maya Nnaji has left the UA women's basketball program.
Nnaji was not in the building for the Wildcats' 88-75 loss to No. 5 Texas Wednesday night at McKale Center, with UA coach Adia Barnes saying postgame that Nnaji is "focusing on academics," and that there was a "possibility" that she could return at a later date.
Nnaji, who is in a Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education program (APME) at Arizona and wants to become a doctor to help the children in her father's home country of Nigeria, has been managing a heavy load of classes along with playing in a Power 5 women's college basketball program.
"It's really challenging," Barnes said of the APME program. "It's has a lot of demands and she misses a lot because of basketball. It's just it's difficult. She misses her job shadowing, misses labs, internships. And, then because that also misses basketball stuff, too. So that balance is hard. Not too many people could do that."
Arizona’s Maya Nnaji (23) breaks through UC San Diego’s defensive line as she makes her way to the net during the Wildcats’ Dec. 7 win over the Tritons at McKale Center.
When the 6-4 sophomore approached Barnes and said she "needed a break, I was very supportive and all in on it because that was what what she signed up for," the coach said.
"I knew she was going to that program when she got here. I have to support what she's doing because her dream is and aspirations (are) to be a doctor. Its student athletes, not athletes-students. That's a perfect example."
Nnaji came to Tucson as the highest recruit in UA history, ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2022. Montaya Dew, a freshman this season, surpassed that at No. 8; but Dew is out for the year while recovering from a knee injury.
That coupled with Nnaji's departure leaves the Wildcats with 10 on the roster able to play in games this season for the Wildcats (7-3). Barnes added Erin Tack, a thrower on the UA track and field team, to the UA basketball roster earlier this month.
In the nine games she played this season, Nnaji was one of three Wildcats averaging in double figures in scoring at 10.2 points per game, to go along with 3.4 rebounds per game. In her final game against UC San Diego, she left the game in the first quarter after an opponent landed on her leg and it collapsed. She returned to action in the second half wearing a leg brace and played 15 minutes, scored seven points and picking up one steal.
Nnaji was the second from her family to play basketball for the Wildcats, as her brother, Zeke, was the Pac-12 Freshman of the year in 2019-20 with the UA men's program. He was selected 22nd overall in the NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets after his lone season in Tucson.
Arizona Women's Basketball Press Conference | Adia Barnes | Dec. 13, 2023 | Postgame after loss to Texas (Arizona Wildcats YouTube)
