April 7, 2004
Georgia Tech basketball player Jim Nystr?m has decided to withdraw from school and return to his home in Stockholm, Sweden, the sophomore guard announced on Wednesday.
The 6-4 player, whose withdrawal is effective immediately, is returning home Thursday to tend to family matters. He also plans to try out for a team in Europe and strive toward earning a spot on the Swedish national team.
“We are disappointed that Jim has to withdraw from school,” said Tech head coach Paul Hewitt, whose Yellow Jackets lost the NCAA national championship game Monday night to Connecticut, 82-73. “We understand his obligation to family concerns and his desire to play for the Swedish national team. We wish him all the best.”
Nystr?m enrolled at Tech in the fall of 2002 and played in 21 games over two seasons, averaging 2.0 points and 0.3 rebounds while 47.1 percent from the floor. This past season, he played in 12 games and averaged 2.6 points a game, making 12 of 15 shots from the floor and 5 of 8 from three-point range.
“I love Georgia Tech and love playing for Coach Hewitt, but my family has to take priority,” said Nystr?m, who also plans to work to help support his family while participating in tryouts. “”I also want to continue to develop my game and try and get on with a team in Europe. Tryouts begin in late May and early June.”
Before coming to Tech, Nystr?m was on the Swedish Under-20 National Team in 2001 and also played for the Solna Vikings professional team, which forced him to miss the Yellow Jackets’ first eight games of his freshman year in order to satisfy NCAA rules. He played for the Swedish National Team that participated in last summer’s World University Games, averaging 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
