WVU transfer Eron Harris hears from Kentucky, Indiana

Three years ago, Eron Harris could barely catch the eye of mid- and low-major Division I coaches. Now he may be the most sought-after college basketball transfer in the country.

Harris, a 2012 Lawrence North (Ind.) High School grad, was officially released from West Virginia on Wednesday, opening the door for other coaches to contact him. The 6-foot-3 guard, who averaged 17.2 points and shot 42 percent from the 3-point line as a sophomore at West Virginia, will have two seasons of eligibility after sitting out one year.

Within two hours of getting his release, Harris had already been contacted by Butler, Indiana and Purdue as well as Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Ohio State and UCLA.

Harris' father, Eric Harris, said finding a school closer to home will be a factor. More important, he said, is compatibility with the coach.

"We respected (West Virginia coach Bob Huggins') coaching style but it probably wasn't the best fit," Eric Harris said. "Looking for that right fit as far as a coach goes is probably the biggest thing."

Harris' father said Wednesday it was still too early to know which schools Eron planned to visit.

"The fit is more important that the location (of the school)," Harris said. "Eron is used to seeing his brothers and family more than he has the past couple years. But if he has to go to New York or California to find the right fit, then that's what he'll do."

Considering the interest level in Harris now, it's difficult to believe he wasn't considered a high-profile recruit just three years ago. Harris went into July with offers from Evansville, IPFW, Southern-Illinois Edwardsville and Tennessee Tech. He moved over to an Indiana Elite team that July, playing with current Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell, and his strong play with that group helped raise his profile.

Harris' recruitment took off from there and he accepted an offer from West Virginia while on a visit prior to his senior season. He averaged 9.8 points as a freshman and nearly doubled that output as a sophomore.

Eric Harris said his son benefited from not being a high-profile prospect.

"He's a humble kind of guy," Harris said. "We talk about that a lot. He'll call me up after he scores 30 points and say, 'How did I do, Dad?' That's just the way he is. He's not going to get a big head or be boastful about anything he's done."

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.