FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno State has ended its practice of signing high school students who don't qualify academically under NCAA standards.

The move, announced Friday, comes as the NCAA Infractions Committee is deciding whether additional penalties are warranted for the men's basketball program.

Fresno State has acknowledged academic fraud, lack of institutional control and use of ineligible players, and it already has imposed its own penalties, including a two-year probation, the reduction of three scholarships and a postseason ban in 2003.

"I think it's important to show (the NCAA) we're taking steps," athletic director Scott Johnson said. "It's part of the total campaign to improve image and perception of Fresno State athletics."

Academic nonqualifiers are students who do not meet NCAA minimum academic requirements to be eligible for a scholarship or competition as a freshman. They are not allowed to participate or receive athletic aid in their first year of college, but they are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship and join a team in their second year if they meet requirements.

Of 691 Fresno State athletes on current rosters, 22 failed to meet NCAA minimum requirements out of high school, assistant athletic director Steve Weakland said. Nine nonqualifiers are on the football team. Five more are coming in with this year's freshman class, but they won't be affected by the new policy.

"What we're trying to do is take away people's excuses why we can't be under consideration for things," Johnson said. "I think everybody is trying to position themselves for ... (conference) realignment and to create stability in conferences. This is just another move to strengthen us."

Football coach Pat Hill said school officials will still work with high school students who do not meet academic requirements in getting them admitted to the university.

"We're not turning our backs on nonqualifiers. ... We're still going to be highly active with them," Hill said. "We'll just show them different alternatives and ways they can further their academic careers, and, hopefully, some day they'll play football for us."