The James Wiseman era at Memphis has ended after just three games.

Wiseman, who has missed the past seven games due to a 12-game suspension stemming from an NCAA investigation and was set to return at South Florida on Jan. 12, announced on Instagram on Thursday that he will leave the program, hire an agent and prepare for the 2020 NBA draft.

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Today I formally withdrew from the University of Memphis and I will be preparing for the next chapter of my life. Ever since I was a little kid, it's been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. Throughout this process, I've asked God to ordain my steps and lead me in the right direction. God is my lord and salvation, and throughout this process he has comforted me. This was not how I expected my freshman season to be, but I'm thankful for everyone who has supported my family and me throughout this process. I want to thank the coaches and staff for all their support and my teammates for pushing me everyday at practice. I feel blessed for the opportunity to be a Tiger and for having the honor to play with these special group of guys. I can't wait to see what all they accomplish this season. The friends and fans of Tiger Nation will always hold a place in my heart. #GoTigersGo ???

A post shared by James Wiseman (@bigticket_j13) on Dec 19, 2019 at 11:41am PST

Wiseman is currently the projected No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft on ESPN.com. In three games with Memphis (9-1), he averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. The 7-foot-1 center was suspended after the school admitted that Penny Hardaway made an $11,500 payment to Wiseman's mother in 2017 before accepting the head-coaching job at his alma mater.

Per the NCAA, Hardaway's $1 million donation to the school in 2008 made him a booster and therefore his payment to Wiseman's mother was an improper benefit. The school vowed to appeal the NCAA's ruling, and Wiseman's lawyers filed for a temporary injunction that allowed Wiseman to play while the investigation continued. But the NCAA announced the 12-game suspension last month and the school lost its appeal.

The Tigers are 7-0 without Wiseman, a streak that includes Saturday's 51-47 win over a nationally ranked Tennessee team.

If Hardaway had any inclination that Wiseman might leave the team, he did not offer any insight after the win over the Vols.

"I think this was a building win for us, meaning like everybody in that building, from the trainer to the [graduate assistants] to the managers, everybody that had any part to do with these kids just getting prepared and ready to go to play this game," Hardaway said. "It takes everybody, man. As a team, you can only keep preaching: We're down, but we're not out. And we just keep fighting."

With the team's success sans Wiseman and previously pending return of the projected lottery pick, Memphis seemed capable of evolving into a national title contender. The ceiling for the program, however, is lower now with Wiseman's departure.