Kevin Coble has opted to conclude his college career at Northwestern.

Coble, who missed all of last season after suffering a preseason foot injury, will graduate in December with a political science degree.

``We wish Kevin nothing but the best in his future endeavors,” Northwestern coach Bill Carmody said in a statement released tonight. ``We want to thank him for his contributions to the program over the past four years.”

The 6-foot-8 Coble led the Wildcats in both scoring and rebounding each of his first three seasons and averaged 14.9 points and 5.1 rebounds over his career.

Coble missed the first nine games of his sophomore season as part of a leave of absence to be with his mother – who was battling cancer.

``The recovery of my foot is most important and extends far beyond my basketball career,” Coble said in the statement. ``I will continue to follow my surgeon’s rehabilitation schedule and have been told by my surgeon that I will have a full recovery. I will not be transferring to another school and with that, will be finishing the last of my classes at Northwestern this fall.”

Coble’s return could have made Northwestern a viable candidate to make its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance this season. The Wildcats, even without Coble, still have a team capable of getting to the Big Dance with the return of their top three scorers – John Shurna, Michael Thompson and Drew Crawford.