Top-100 guard Jalen James decommits from Illinois

Jalen James stuck with Illinois through everything for the past year.

Even after head coach Bruce Weber was fired and John Groce was hired as his replacement, James stayed true to his commitment.

Nearly a year after originally pledging to the Fighting Illini, though, James is back on the market.

“Jalen James will reopen his recruitment for the July evaluation period,” Illinois Wolves AAU coach Mike Mullins said. “This decision was made by Jalen and his family after discussions with the new head coach John Groce. Jalen wishes the Illinois team and program well and is excited for the July period and new opportunities.”

"I wish coach Groce and the Illini staff the best of luck in the future!" James tweeted.

On his Twitter account, Mullins added that Colorado, Marquette, SMU, Tennessee, Florida State and Nebraska have already reached out since James decommitted.

It's been an eventful week for the Illinois program, which saw new assistant coach Isaac Chew leave for Marquette after less than two months on the job.

James, a 6-foot-2 guard from La Lumiere (Ind.), is ranked No. 90 in the class of 2013.