INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Former Butler center Andrew Smith has taken leave from his professional basketball career and returned to the United States to begin receiving medical treatment, according to a statement released by his agent, Sam Porter of Exclusive Sports Group:

    Butler basketball standout Andrew Smith has interrupted his rookie professional
    basketball year in Europe to return to America for medical care.

    After returning stateside, Smith received the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
    and has begun the course of treatments being provided in Indianapolis.  Smith's leave
    from his professional career in basketball is indefinite until reassessment post-treatment.

    Neither Smith nor his family will comment further until there is new news to report.

    Smith, the 6-11 center who played in two NCAA national championship matches for the
    Butler Bulldogs, signed with the Eurocup team Neptunas in August and began his rookie
    season in September.

Smith and his wife, Samantha, returned from Lithuania after a tumor was discovered during a medical checkup.

"Right now our thoughts and prayers are with Andrew, Samantha and their families," said Butler head coach Brandon Miller.  "The character, strength and resilience that Andrew demonstrated throughout his outstanding career at Butler are the traits that will carry him through this next battle."
 
Smith, a finance major and second team Academic All-American from Zionsville, Ind., completed a stellar athletic and academic career at Butler in 2012-13.  He was the leading rebounder (6.1 rpg) and second-leading scorer (11.3 ppg) for the 27-9 Bulldogs, who advanced to the third round of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.  He finished his four seasons as one of just 11 players in Butler basketball history to record 1,000 career points and 600 career rebounds.  He was one of just three players in Butler history with 1,000 career points and 100 career wins.