USC junior forward Chimezie Metu is no longer a captain and will sit out the first half of the Trojans' game Thursday at Cal for hitting Washington State's Carter Skaggs in the groin during Sunday's game, USC announced Monday.

Metu — USC's leading scorer at 17.8 points per game — also was required to write a letter of apology to Skaggs and Washington State, as well as to his teammates.

"A lack of judgment for a split second led to an action that I immediately regretted and had no business committing in the first place," Metu wrote. "I understand there is no place in the game of basketball for such an unsportsmanlike action."

The discipline handed out by USC was approved by the Pac-12.

"We commend USC and its leadership for taking swift action in response to this incident. … Mr. Metu’s action toward a fellow student-athlete is unacceptable and the Conference supports USC’s disciplinary measures," Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said, in part, in a statement, adding that the conference would take no further action.

Metu was ejected late in the first half of the Trojans' eventual 89-71 win Sunday after he hit Skaggs in the groin after his attempted a 3-point shot.

Metu was called for a flagrant-2 foul after officials reviewed the play and removed from the game