Tennessee grants Shembari Phillips release from scholarship

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Guard Shembari Phillips is leaving Tennessee after spending two seasons with the Volunteers.

Tennessee announced Wednesday that it had granted Phillips' request for a release from his scholarship. The 6-foot-3 guard from Atlanta made 13 starts as a sophomore this past season.

Volunteers coach Rick Barnes said in a university release, ''We're going to do everything we can to help him find the school and program that's the best fit for him.'' Barnes added that Phillips will ''have plenty of options because of the kind of person and teammate he is.''

Phillips averaged 6.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 20.9 minutes this past season. He made 11 starts in 2015-16 and averaged 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 16.2 minutes.