ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia denied requests from two basketball signees seeking releases from their national letters of intent following coach Jim Harrick's resignation.

"That's the stance that we're taking right now,'' associate athletic director Damon Evans said Friday.

Harrick resigned Thursday amid allegations of illegal payments and academic fraud.

The university denied a request Friday by signee Jordan Howell of Madison, Ala., to be released, and Mohamed Abukar of San Diego said he made a similar request.

"We want to be as fair as possible to these kids,'' Evans said. "The parent and the prospects may not feel that way, but we'd like to give the new coach the opportunity to visit with those prospects.''

Evans said he did not know whether the three other signees -- Corey Gibbs of Atlanta and South Plains (Texas) Junior College teammates Cassiano Matheus and Marcus Jackson -- had asked to be released.