Kevin Ware was the first to [URL=”http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/mar/21/ut-signee-kevin-ware-asks-release-hamilton-told-hi/?partner=RSS”]ask for a release[/URL] from his commitment to Tennessee saying that the AD mislead him. Of course, all he really had to say was “I signed with Pearl. No Pearl, no Ware.” Ware is a 4-star SG out of Rockdale County HS in Conyers, GA. He picked Tennessee over Florida, Georgia Tech and Miami (FL).
Now Chris Jones has [URL=”http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=rivals-1202881″]asked for his release[/URL] as well. At least Jones is keeping Tennessee as an option instead of burning the bridge as Ware has. Jones is a 4-star PG out of Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge, NC. He picked Tennessee over Mississippi, Mississippi State and Missouri (Kentucky had shown interest, but never offered).
Freshman forward Tobias Harris’ father said earlier this week that [URL=”http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/mar/20/harris-future-on-pearls-fate/?partner=RSS”]his son would go pro[/URL] early if Pearl was “no longer there”. Harris is currently predicted to go 29th in the 2011 NBA draft by [URL=”http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft”]NBADraft.net[/URL], so going pro may be his best option. If he stays at Tennessee, he may be lacking any kind of supporting cast. If he transfers, he sits out a year.
No word yet as to who Tennessee will go after, but Mr. SEC has [URL=”http://www.mrsec.com/2011/03/who-winds-up-in-fayetteville-and-knoxville/”]tossed the names[/URL] Chris Mooney (Richmond), Shaka Smart (VCU), Rick Byrd (Belmont), and Gregg Marshall into the pot.
