http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9732835/appalachian-state-coach-jason-capel-release-devonte-graham-letter-intent
Although in that case, they seem justified.
The coaches were all still there. The only thing that changed was that Graham decided he was better than that and other programs has been tampering. Releasing him would let him go to one of those schools and screw App State, who was unable to get someone else to fill that spot because they assumed Graham was coming.
Of course that kid ended up a beaker.