Shane Power left the ISU men’s basketball team Friday. At press time, neither Power nor anyone close to him had explained why he did so.

“I felt it was in my best interest to leave ISU and pursue other opportunities,” Power said in a press release.

Power did not say whether he planned to enroll at another university.

Bill Smith, director of compliance at Iowa State, said Power was given a formal release of his scholarship Friday, meaning Power can accept an athletic scholarship from another university.

Power returned Sunday to Ames from a weekend spent at his Indiana home and could not be reached for comment.

“We want players who want to be in our program,” ISU head coach Larry Eustachy said in a press release.

“We wish Shane the best of luck in all his future endeavors.”

He has not commented further.

Power, a sophomore forward from Crown Point, Ind., started all 31 of the Cyclones games this past season, averaging 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

His minutes played per game, 37.5, led the team.

“I was shocked,” said Tyray Pearson, a former teammate.

“I was as curious as you guys are,” as to why he left, Pearson said.

Pearson dismissed the thought that Power and Eustachy clashed, saying he thought theirs was an amicable relationship.

Pearson does not know what other schools Power is considering.

Adam Haluska, a senior at Carroll High School who will play basketball next season for the Cyclones, said “I think everybody was [shocked].”

Power showed him the campus during Haluska’s recruiting visit and the two became friends.

“I always thought he was a crowd favorite. I thought he was happy here,” Haluska said.

“He’s a great player and a floor leader.”

Basketball News ranked Haluska and the four recruits joining him next season as the nation’s fourth best.

HoopScoop ranked the recruiting class second best, behind Duke.

Haluska didn’t think Power was intimidated enough by the players coming in to quit the team.

“I don’t think he would shy away from the competition,” Haluska said, “just because a couple of recruits were coming in.”

Haluska and Power talked over the phone two weeks ago.

Haluska said Power had not mentioned having any problems or that he was thinking of leaving the team.

Lello Gebisa, who attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is Power’s girlfriend, declined to comment.