Kentucky junior Rekalin Sims has requested and been granted his release to transfer from the Wildcats? men?s basketball team, Coach Tubby Smith announced Tuesday.

?We certainly wish Rekalin the best as he pursues other opportunities,? Smith said. ?He?s a quality player and he?d be an asset to whatever school he ends up attending.?

Sims did not inform Smith where he intends to play, but he will have to sit out a season under NCAA transfer rules before playing his final season of eligibility if he elects to transfer to another Division I school.

The 6-8 forward from Vallejo, Calif., played in 29 games for UK, earning a starting nod six times. He averaged 4.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg, but showed impressive play early in the season. Sims played 20 minutes in the season debut against South Dakota State, totaling 11 points and seven rebounds.

His best game of the season came against Iowa in the semifinals of the Guardian?s Classic, where he had 22 points and seven rebounds in a starting role. However, Sims totaled just 24 points in his last 15 games this season, including eight scoreless outings after the start of SEC play.