Maurice Harkless has decided to open it up.
After initially committing to UConn, the 6-foot-8, 187-pound Queens native has decided to decommit and reevaluate his options.
“I want to just reopen my recruitment,” Harkless told SNY.tv exclusively Monday morning by phone. “I just want to make sure UConn is still the right choice and explore my other options.”
The No. 21 small forward in the Class of 2011, Harkless averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season at Forest Hills High.
UConn has undergone some turmoil in recent months.
The NCAA recently announced the finding of eight violations in connection with the recruitment of Nate Miles, a story initially reported in 2009 by Yahoo! Sports.
Last month the school released an infractions letter it received from the NCAA following a 15-month investigation. UConn is to appear before the governing body in October to respond.
The announcement on the Storrs campus came a day after assistant coach Patrick Sellers and director of basketball operations Beau Archibald resigned.
“There’s a lot going on with the whole investigation thing,” Harkless said. “That’s not really a major factor. It’s a part of it. I just don’t feel comfortable closing every other option.”
Harkless also holds offers from West Virginia, St. John’s, Rutgers, Seton Hall “and a couple other schools,” he said.
“I’m not really considering any other schools as of now,” he said. “I want to reopen it and see what schools come around.”
Harkless still plans on heading to South Kent (Conn.) in September to prep for a season on a team that will likely include uncommitted stars Kadeem Jack, Derrick Randall and Ricardo Ledo.
(Photo courtesy Rivals.com)
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