MALIBU, Calif. " The Pepperdine men's basketball program announced today that shooting guard A.J. Lapray will end his college playing career by taking a medical retirement. An ongoing hip injury greatly limited his two seasons with the Waves.

Lapray (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS/Oregon) will continue to receive a scholarship so that he may finish his degree at Pepperdine, but due to his medical retirement status, the scholarship will not count against the team's limit per NCAA rules.

"The last three years I've had this nagging hip injury," Lapray said. "I've had two surgeries, and it's been painful to the point where I can't sleep, and I haven't been able to run or play. The doctor said it's best for my long-term health to shut me down and to stop playing college basketball. It's been difficult, because I've devoted my life to playing basketball.

"I'm thankful for Coach (Marty) Wilson, the coaching staff and my teammates for their support. They have all helped me get through this. I hope to stay involved in the program as much as I can."

Lapray started his college career at Oregon in 2013-14, but he only played in two games and received a medical redshirt. After transferring to Pepperdine he received a waiver from the NCAA allowing him to play right away, but he was limited to 18 games in 2014-15 and 14 games in 2015-16. Lapray missed the final 14 games of this past season, in which he was a redshirt sophomore.

He averaged 2.3 points and 11.8 minutes in 32 career games with the Waves. Seventeen of his 25 career field goals were three-pointers.

"I am heart-broken that A.J. has to end his playing career with an injury that is preventing him from continuing his dream of playing college basketball," Pepperdine Coach Marty Wilson said. "Had he been healthy, he would have been a valuable asset to our basketball team due to his ability as a shooter, and we will miss that. We expect that he will continue to be around our team as he continues to earn his degree here at Pepperdine."

Lapray is scheduled to graduate in spring 2017 with a degree in interpersonal communications.

The Waves previously announced that sophomores A.J. John and Shawn Olden will not return, meaning the program has three open scholarships that could be filled this spring.