LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 08: Chimezie Metu #4 of the USC Trojans reacts to a lost possession against the Oklahoma Sooners in an 85-83 Sooner win during the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Staples Center on December 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

USC forward stripped of captaincy after giving the shaft to an opponent

Seems light given action.

Following a strike to the groin of an opponent, USC Trojans talent Chimezie Metu is getting disciplined by head coach Andy Enfield.

A potential first-round NBA Draft pick, Metu went for a real cheap shot during the first half of USC's game against Washington State, as he hit a jump shooter below the belt and was ejected.

Metu was given a Flagrant-2 for that hit.

The forward was averaging 18.6 points and 8.1 rebounds a game before his early ejection on New Year's Eve. Following the game, he's now averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.

As punishment, Enfield said Metu must also issue a written apology as part of his discipline, which was approved by the Pac-12. He is also stripped of his captaincy.

"We commend USC and its leadership for taking swift action in response to this incident," Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a prepared statement, adding that the conference would take no further action.

In the letter, the forward apologized to the player, Washington State and 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."

Metu will sit out the first half of USC's next game on Thursday against California.