Will Harris has been released from his basketball scholarship by the University of Virginia and already has been in contact with other schools, according to Jason Smith, who coached Harris at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

Harris missed most of the 2007-2008 season with a back problem but teammates have described him as close to 100 percent in recent pick-up games.

"Will actually loves Virginia, loves the university and everybody in Charlottesville," Smith said. "He had a great relationship with the coaches and all of his teammates.

"He was a great ambassador for the university; I just think he wants a little bit different role for his last two years in college. I think he just wants to go to a program where he can shine a little bit more."

Harris played more than any other UVa freshman in 2006-2007, when he averaged 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds, but he played in only nine of 33 UVa games this past season.

Harris (6 foot 6, 245 pounds) was viewed as something of a "tweener," not tall enough to guard 6-9 or 6-10 power forwards but a little too stocky for the wing. The back injury prevented him from altering that perception.

"That's just a small portion of it," Smith said. "When I spoke to Will about a week and a half ago, he said he was back to 100 percent and playing every day. Adrian Joseph told me [Monday] that Will was playing great."

Smith said it was his understanding that Harris had spoken to Albany and Marist. New Hampshire and Northeastern called Smith on Wednesday.

"I think he would prefer to go to those level," Smith said. "I've had Big East, Atlantic-10, even Big Ten schools call and I've mentioned them to Will. But, again, Will is almost 22 years old. He's not going to get caught up in the level of schools like a 17- or 18-year-old kid might.

"He'd definitely be a match-up problem for schools in the America East or the MAAC."

Smith said he cannot envision Harris changing his mind and returning to UVa.

UVa coach Dave Leitao has been in Costa Rica and has not addressed the Harris situation. However, Harris' departure would free up a scholarship for either Calvin Baker, who transferred from William and Mary without a grant, or Tunji Soroye, who qualifies for a hardship appeal that would enable him to return for a fifth year.