Jul 15, 2015 03:10 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Memphis is dropping all restrictions against potential transfer destinations for Austin Nichols, who asked for to be released from his scholarship last month.

According to ESPN, Nichols and his family retained a lawyer to seek an unconditional transfer, as the forward was reportedly eyeing transfers to several top-tier programs Memphis wanted to block.

"The University of Memphis has reviewed the appeal submitted by Austin Nichols and has agreed to remove all conditions from his release," read a statement from the school.

Last week, Memphis head men's basketball coach Josh Pastner indicated the school would not release Nichols from his scholarship. But the school changed its course and shortly thereafter granted Nichols a condition release, blocking him from transferring to a number of schools.

"There's no legal basis for Memphis to deny a release at this point," Don Jackson, Nichols' attorney, told ESPN. "This isn't about one school. They have denied the release to over 40 schools."

Memphis wanted to block Nichols from transferring to any other American Athletic Conference school, as well as any nonconference school on the team's schedule. After averaging 13 points and six rebounds per game last season, Nichols is expected to have his pick of some of the best programs in the nation.

Citing unnamed sources, ESPN learned Nichols is eyeing Virginia, but schools like Duke, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Marquette, Baylor and Auburn have also expressed interest. Nichols will have to sit out next season, but will have two more years of eligibility afterward.

It is still not clear why Nichols decided to transfer so late in the offseason, but his contentious departure could be a signal of a deteriorating relationship with the program's leadership.

"Although the staff has attempted to imply 'tampering,' the broad nature of the restrictions clearly establishes that 'tampering' is not an issue," Jackson told CBS Sports. "This is a calculated effort by a dysfunctional staff to punish a player for taking a step to remove himself from a failing program."

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