Sophomore guard Amedeo Della Valle (33) attempts a lay up during a game against Iowa Jan. 12 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 84-74. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Sophomore guard Amedeo Della Valle (33) attempts a lay up during a game against Iowa Jan. 12 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 84-74.
Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Amedeo Della Valle’s days in the Scarlet and Gray are finished.

The Ohio State sophomore guard sent a message from his personal Twitter account Saturday afternoon announcing his intentions to head back to Europe to pursue a career in professional basketball.

“I wouldn’t trade this experience with anything else, B1G Champions, the run to the Elite 8, the 12-0 year, man that was special,” a screenshotted message from Della Valle’s account, @Ame_DV_33, read. “First of all mom, dad thank you for being on my side. I would like to thank not only my teammates but also the coaching staff that really helped me improve, you know without all the hard work I wouldn’t have been able to win the Mvp in the europe and compete in the B1G. To my friends THANK YOU, you guys made it special for me and will always have you for the rest of my life. I want to thank the best fans in the land. It is now time for me to begin new experiences as I decided to head back to Europe to continue to play PRO basketball.”

An OSU athletic spokesman confirmed via email Della Valle’s departure to The Lantern Saturday.

OSU coach Thad Matta said Della Valle informed Matta and the rest of the staff Saturday afternoon, according to an OSU press release.

“Amedeo is passionate about the game of basketball and wants to return to Europe to pursue a professional career,” Matta said. “We appreciate all the work he put in to make our team better over the last two years. We wish him well.”

Della Valle averaged 4.0 points per game this season off the bench, missing two of OSU’s 35 games because of a knee injury. A supposed three-point specialist from Alba, Italy, Della Valle shot just 32.4 percent (24/74) from beyond the arc this season.

He averaged only 11.9 minutes per game this season for the Buckeyes (25-10, 12-9), who bowed out to Dayton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday, 60-59.

After averaging 13 points per game at the U20 Euro Championships in summer 2013, Della Valle earned Most Valuable Player honors.

With his departure, including the graduation of senior guard Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr., OSU is set to have just 11 scholarship players on roster with the four players — guard D’Angelo Russell, forwards Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate and center David Bell — and that number could be smaller if junior forward LaQuinton Ross declares for the NBA Draft. Ross said after the Dayton loss he’d make a decision on his future “in the next few weeks.”

Programs are allowed 13 scholarship players per season in college basketball.

Della Valle did not immediately respond to The Lantern‘s request for comment Saturday.