UW is among the schools in talks with Sun Belt Player of the Year Chaze Harris, per report

The University of Washington is reportedly among the schools speaking with South Alabama guard Chaze Harris after he earned Sun Belt Player of the Year recognition and received additional college basketball eligibility, according to 247Sports as carried by Yahoo Sports. The report frames the current stage as conversations rather than a completed decision, with Washington and at least a couple of other high-profile programs in the mix.

Harris is listed at 6-foot-6 and plays guard, giving his teams an option at the perimeter who can create offense on the move and in the half court. Even within that offensive profile, the report characterizes him as a “scorer not shooter,” noting that his 3-point production has been a struggle. That distinction matters for fit, because Washington would likely view him primarily as a pressure distributor and shot-maker inside the arc rather than a spacing specialist.

The reported list of schools extends beyond UW. Yahoo Sports’ account says Harris is also holding conversations with SMU and Seton Hall, reflecting how quickly a high-usage, conference-level standout can attract interest when eligibility opens up. For the programs involved, the situation is also a recruiting and roster puzzle at the same time, because Harris is not a simple “plug in and stretch the floor” player.

From Washington’s perspective, the appeal would be tied to adding another ball-handling creator or secondary initiator, someone who can support a team’s offensive load when possessions slow down. However, any evaluation would also need to address the shooting component highlighted in the report, since modern roster construction often depends on consistent three-point scoring to avoid surrendering rim protection and to keep defenses honest.

For Harris, the decision would carry both competitive and playing-time considerations. Conversations can move quickly in the transfer landscape, but the reported nature of these discussions is a reminder that outcomes can change after visits, further film review, and conversations with coaching staffs. The report’s emphasis on “just talking” is significant, because it suggests this is still an early-to-middle stage rather than an announcement timeline.

The story also illustrates how Sun Belt Player of the Year honors can translate into national recruiting momentum. Harris’s award level is not merely a personal accolade, it is often used by programs as shorthand for impact, usage, and toughness, even when specific skill sets like shooting percentages may vary. In Harris’s case, the “scorer not shooter” framing suggests his value proposition may be anchored in shot creation and offensive responsibility rather than perimeter efficiency alone.

What to watch next is whether Washington, SMU, or Seton Hall move from conversations to formal commitments, and how those programs position Harris within their offensive and defensive expectations. If Harris’s shot profile remains the key question, the next step will likely be identifying whether his role can be optimized to manage variance from three while still maximizing his scoring output in other areas.