Iowa forward Patrick McCaffery announced Tuesday that he is taking an indefinite leave from the basketball team to address anxiety issues.
“I have been battling anxiety for a while, and recently it has peaked, which has inhibited my preparation and performance on the court,” McCaffery wrote in a statement. “It’s not fair to myself or teammates to be on the court when I am not myself. The anxiety has affected my sleep, appetite and stamina, which has resulted in not having the energy level necessary to compete ar my full capabilities.
“My struggle with anxiety affects every aspect of my well-being and makes it incredibly difficult to function normally. This is what I am battling. For this reason, I am taking an indefinite leave to address my situation. It might be two games, it may be four games, it may be more, but I will return when I feel like myself. My leave of absence is not related to my past battle with cancer.”
McCaffery, 22, is averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14 games this season for the Hawkeyes (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten).
“Patrick is one of the millions of people who battle through anxiety on a daily basis,” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, who also is his father.
“It has become more noticeable on and off the court over the past couple weeks. Patrick has the full support of his family, coaches, teammates and administration as he fights through this. All of us admire his courage and willingness to be open about this struggle and we hope others know that they are not alone. We will be with him every step of the way.”
–Field Level Media