Jim Harrick is getting hammered in Atlanta, not to mention Athens, for possibly signing four recruits who'll never wear a Georgia uniform.

But Harrick, the crafty, West Virginia-native who dodged many media and fan blitzes at his last high-profile job (even after winning the 1995 national title at UCLA) isn't pointing a finger at anyone but himself.

	“	We've done it the right way here. We didn't bend the rules. But things happen. I wish they wouldn't happen, but it will all get worked out and we'll recover. ... I'm not giving up. This is a blip on the screen. It will all work out. ”
		— Jim Harrick, Georgia head coach

Sure, he's got answers for why Julius Lamptey and Alexander Johnson are headed to prep schools instead of Athens this fall, and why Larry Turner is enrolled at Oklahoma. He's also optimistic that Wayne Arnold will still become eligible before classes start at Georgia. He's also got just as much reason to look deeper into his program for positives, because of who is eligible on a potential top-10 team -- including N.C. State transfer Damien Wilkins, who has already committed and is expected to be eligible for 2002-03.

But the reality is Harrick admittedly took one gamble with a former player -- Tony Cole -- that might ultimately be at the root of the current unrest.

"I blame no one but me," Harrick said by phone while taking a breather from recruiting with his son this week in Orange County in California. "I don't pin it on anybody. I don't blame other people. It's my program.

"It's easy to criticize and be a critic. We have done some very, very good things and we have some great young guys in the program."

The flak Harrick is getting over his 2002 recruiting class is compounded by the case involving Cole, rising junior forward Stephen Thomas and football player Brandon Williams. The three current Georgia athletes were involved in an alleged attempted rape and aggravated assault this past January. The trial for all three on felony counts will begin Aug. 19.

Thomas' toughest chore in getting back on the basketball team might not be the legal courts. He has to get past a campus judiciary committee to be allowed to play basketball and the jury could be tougher on him than a judge. Cole was actually never dismissed from the basketball program, according to one Georgia official, meaning he too could technically be back on the squad for his senior season if he got through the legal and campus judicial system. Harrick accepted Cole on the squad last season after recruiting him when he was the coach at Rhode Island. Cole never got eligible for the Rams and Harrick says he only took him because Jerod Gerald didn't qualify for the 2001-02 season and he needed a backup to Rashad Wright at the point.

Gerald signed with South Carolina out of Fork Union Military Academy and will be eligible in the upcoming season. Cole, who was wild on the court in his helter-skelter play at the point, played in only 16 games. Thomas, played in 28, and is integral to the Bulldogs' frontcourt chances of survival in the rugged SEC East.

"I was looking for a backup point guard in July (of 2001)," Harrick said. "It backfired. It really hurt. I took a chance. But coach (Vince) Dooley (the AD at Georgia) understands. He was a coach. We've done it the right way here. We didn't bend the rules. But things happen. I wish they wouldn't happen, but it will all get worked out and we'll recover."

Harrick is talking about his recruiting. The off-court issues involving Cole and Thomas are far more serious than not getting recruits eligible. But, while he obeys the rules, Harrick's gambles when it comes to recruits or transfers don't always pay off.

There is no reason Wilkins shouldn't be given a second chance in Athens, considering what happened a year ago in Raleigh wasn't anything more than a player not fitting into a system, and then thinking a little too much of his skills at the next level. But, Harrick still gets picked on for trying to bring in Kenny Brunner two years ago.

Brunner never played for the Bulldogs after being denied admission to the university. And before even trying to get into Georgia, Brunner had bounced around the college basketball landscape, playing a half season for Georgetown, before transferring to Fresno State and never playing for those Bulldogs, either. Yet, former Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian got slammed for letting Brunner transfer to the school after Brunner was involved in the infamous "Samurai Sword" incident with former Fresno State player Avondre Jones. Jones and Brunner allegedly put a sword to a student and robbed him in Fresno. Brunner later served some jail time for an alleged armed robbery of Los Angeles City College coach Mike Miller. Brunner ended up playing at the College of Southern Idaho before being tossed off that squad. Georgia's denial ended his college basketball saga.

"Everyone gets on me about Brunner," Harrick said. "He was never a student at Georgia. What is that? They keep bringing it up and it'll end up being my legacy."

Still, having those links to Cole, Thomas and, to some extent Brunner, make Harrick's four recruits in question this summer even more of an issue. Lamptey and Johnson have each been ruled ineligible to play for the Bulldogs in 2002-03. Turner's eligibility also was questioned by Georgia, which led to his eventual signing by Oklahoma this past summer. And if Arnold doesn't receive his high school diploma before classes start at Georgia on Aug. 19, all four of Harrick's recruits for this year will have failed to meet qualifying standards.

Here are their stories. But, not excuses, mind you, according to Harrick.

Lamptey is heading to a prep school after failing to get eligible. Lamptey couldn't earn a qualifying test score and Harrick says he was worth "taking the risk." Lamptey was the least likely of the four to qualify and Harrick is convinced he'll get Lamptey either after prep school next year or in three years if he goes to junior college.

Turner was fully qualified this fall and will play at Oklahoma after a recruiting tussle with the Sooners, Connecticut and Alabama. Turner was eligible at Georgia, but that was only after he went to prep school in Maine for a year. He got a qualifying test score, but after he allegedly cheated on a test after his senior year. Georgia denied his admission after he signed an application for admission. The player is subject to an honor code once he signs the application, and if any information is false or fraudulent then he forfeits his right to be admitted. But Turner wasn't told until mid-June, which could have put his chances of getting an open scholarship somewhere in jeopardy.

"After Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, DeSagne Diop and Kwame Brown, Larry Turner was the best center in that class (of 2001)," Harrick said. "He was a full qualifier and he didn't get admitted and there's only so much we could do."

Harrick claims Johnson, who didn't get a qualifying test score, has a disability. He said he has an oblong cornea and he had trouble seeing close up when he took a test. One Georgia official said a university eye doctor hasn't checked Johnson, but Harrick said Johnson went to an opthomologist and was diagnosed. Harrick said Johnson could be admitted by mid-December if he earns a qualifying test score. Now that he apparently knows his vision problems, he can be considered learning disabled when taking a test. Johnson will be at a prep school while he tries to get eligible.

Arnold didn't take his final exam in social studies and violated an absentee rule, preventing him from earning his diploma from Berkmar High in Georgia, according to Georgia officials. He has a qualifying test score. Arnold's troubles are explainable. His mother died of cancer, Dec. 21, 2001, and, according to Harrick, his father isn't at home. "It's a traumatic thing and I can't say anything if I haven't walked in his shoes," Harrick said. "He lost his mother. Whatever happens, I'll support him. He'll get in school."

Harrick added, "Things happen in college that you can't control. The bottom line is that young people are responsible for academics, not me. I sign them in good faith. I've been recruiting Johnson, Arnold and Turner for three years -- since the day I got the job here. There was never any indication that they wouldn't make it. It will work out."

As for who Harrick will have in uniform, adding Wilkins certainly helps. While the son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins clashed with N.C. State coach Herb Sendek and wasn't invited back to the team after he declared for the 2001 draft, then withdrew his name, he has apparently been a model citizen with the Bulldogs the past year. "Since I've been at Georgia we haven't had great leadership. But Damien Wilkins is mature beyond his years and has been a terrific leader and great defender and splendid athlete," Harrick said. "He knows how to play basketball. You can't teach his qualities. He's going to have a huge impact on our team because he makes us better in every aspect of the team."

Wilkins' Warriors, as Harrick termed them, was the scout team in practice. The previous year, when twins Jonas and Jarvis Hayes were sitting out as transfers from Western Carolina, the scout team was called Hayes' Hustlers. Harrick said Wilkins' team, made up of him and walk-ons, was hungrier and showed more passion than he has seen from a practice squad.

Wilkins can't play inside to replace Thomas if he isn't eligible. And if Thomas can't play then the Bulldogs will be too thin inside. But the rest of the remaining players -- the Hayes twins, Wright, Chris Daniels and Rashad Wright -- have not only been model citizens to those at the school, according to a Georgia official, but also are good enough to get Georgia back atop the SEC East and into the NCAA Tournament again.

Getting a commitment from rising senior forward Mohamed Abukar, who is playing on the U.S. National team in Venezuela -- a usual sign that he'll be good to go without problems in a year -- was a coup for Harrick. Abukar is from Poway, Calif., proving that Harrick still has drawing power out West after coaching Pepperdine and UCLA. And the high school junior class in the state, not to mention the rest of the South, is considered one of the best ever.

"We'll recover," Harrick said. "I'm not giving up. This is a blip on the screen. It will all work out."

One Man's 50

The Wooden Award committee asked ESPN.com's Andy Katz for his top 50 preseason award candidates. Here they are, in alphabetical order. But remember, this is an award for one player. So, let the debate rage: Mario Austin, Miss. St.* Marcus Bailey, Wyoming Troy Bell, Boston College Steve Blake, Maryland Matt Bonner, Florida Nick Collison, Kansas Brian Cook, Illinois Tom Coverdale, Indiana Erwin Dudley, Alabama Chris Duhon, Duke Ronald Dupree, LSU* Carl English, Hawaii T.J. Ford, Texas Reece Gaines, Louisville Jason Gardner, Arizona Marcus Hatten, St. John's Jarvis Hayes, Georgia Chris Hill, Michigan State Kirk Hinrich, Kansas Josh Howard, Wake Forest Brandon Hunter, Ohio Luke Jackson, Oregon Jason Kapono, UCLA Brandin Knight, Pittsburgh Kyle Korver, Creighton Chris Marcus, W. Kentucky Jason Maxiell, Cincinnati Brett Nelson, Florida Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's Ugonna Onyekwe, Penn Ricky Paulding, Missouri Kirk Penney, Wisconsin Hollis Price, Oklahoma Justin Reed, Ole Miss Darius Rice, Miami Rick Rickert, Minnesota* Luke Ridnour, Oregon Quentin Ross, SMU* Romain Sato, Xavier Ryan Sidney, Boston College* Theron Smith, Ball State Blake Stepp, Gonzaga* Mike Sweetney, Georgetown Chris Thomas, Notre Dame Cory Violette, Gonzaga Dwyane Wade, Marquette Luke Walton, Arizona David West, Xavier Maurice Williams, Alabama Doug Wrenn, Washington* *Not on the Wooden list released to media so they qualify as write-in candidates.

Gators giddy over getting Drejer
If Danish wing Christian Drejer is as good as NBA scouts are billing him (better than Nikoloz Tskitishvili?), then Florida has a legit shot to make a Final Four run.

The Gators got Drejer to commit for the upcoming season, choosing Florida over Gonzaga, Florida State, Connecticut and a contract with Benetton Treviso (Italy). Drejer wanted to experience the NCAA Tournament. Odds are he's not going to play more than two seasons, if even that, meaning he had to choose a school that is likely tournament bound.

"His skill is ridiculous," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. Drejer can play either guard spots, or even small forward. "He'll be perfect for us. He's got the deep range, can handle and pass. He'll play all over the place for us and helps us with the loss of Orien Greene (transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette)."

The Gators essentially have no scrubs. Check out the roster. Florida can go with Brett Nelson and Justin Hamilton in the backcourt with Drejer as a roving guard. James White (who has to be wondering if he's going to be a star at Florida or not ... it's up to him) factors into the rotation. And, so too, could all three freshman guards -- Anthony Roberson, Rashid Al-Kaleem and Matt Walsh. The frontcourt is thin on experience, but still has enough bodies with Matt Bonner, David Lee, Bonnell Colas, redshirt freshman Adrian Moss and freshman Mario Boggan.

"The addition of Christian gives us more perimeter shooting, which is what we lacked last year," Donovan said. "We've added Roberson, Drejer, Walsh, Al-Kaleem to go with Brett Nelson."

Donovan envisions Drejer fitting in perfectly in a running and trapping system, possibly rotating in with White. Donovan said White has been unselfish this summer, putting in the time on his offensive skill work (29 percent on 3s as a freshman last season). White needs to be able to shoot off the dribble, hit the mid-range shot or just make the deep shot in a set offense. White was too predictable last season and can't rely strictly on his athleticism.

Donovan is talking about going big in the backcourt with 6-foot-3 Hamilton, the 6-6 Drejer and the 6-6 White when Nelson isn't on the court. Donovan could also go smaller, not in height, but in girth, in the frontcourt with 6-9, 224-pound Lee and the 6-10, 237-pound Bonner.

"We had two consistent perimeter threats in Brett and Matt and we had to address that in recruiting and we've done that," Donovan said. "We'll be able to force the defense to stretch with our athleticism, quickness and one-on-one skills."

'Bracket Buster' Field Set
The teams for the "Bracket Buster" event are set for Feb. 22. There will be 18 teams with five games on ESPN (or ESPN2) and four that won't be nationally televised. The matchups will be determined Feb. 1.

Teams will be responsible for their own travel, but the goal of the event was to give mid-major teams the chance to play a non-conference game in the middle of their conference season against another team that could help its power rating in the event they could get into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team.

The teams chosen were: Gonzaga (WCC), Western Kentucky (Sun Belt), UC Santa Barbara (Big West), Hawaii, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and Fresno State from the WAC, Creighton, Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Illinois State from the MVC, Detroit, Illinois-Chicago and Wisconsin-Milwaukee from the Horizon League and Ball State, Kent State, Bowling Green and Marshall from the MAC.

The obvious omissions are: Penn (not invited), Ohio (didn't want to participate), Butler (chose not to be in the field) and Pepperdine (not interested).

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