Ex-Fremont Star Leaves Gauchos

Former Fremont high star Chris Ford has left UC Santa Barbara basketball program for personal reasons, the school announced Tuesday.

Ford, the 1991 City Section 3-A player of the year, entered Monday night’s game at New Mexico State as UCSB’s leading scorer with a 10.9-point average, but played only 13 minutes and was held scoreless, missing two field goal attempts, in a 92-71 loss as the Gauchos dropped to 4-7.

Ford, a sophomore, started all 11 of UCSB’s games. His scoring average fell to 9.9 points Monday night. He made 35.8 percent of his field goal attempts and a team-leading 22 three-point shots.

The school said Ford’s departure was the result of a mutual decision he reached along with UCSB Coach Jerry Pimm. Ford will retain his scholarship to UCSB for the winter quarter, the school said.