College basketball: Harangody, Kansas duo top preseason A-A team

Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody and Kansas teammates Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins are the leading vote-getters on The Associated Press' preseason All-America team.

They are joined by Patrick Patterson of Kentucky and Kyle Singler of Duke on the team selected by a national media panel.

Harangody, the only player to rank in the top 10 last season in scoring and rebounding, was a preseason pick last season and then was a second-team All-American after averaging 23.3 points and 11.8 rebounds for the Fighting Irish.

Aldrich and Collins are the sixth set of teammates to be selected to the preseason team, which started in 1986-87, and the second from Kansas, joining Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce in 1997-98.

Special prosecutor to handle rape claim

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A special prosecutor will review a rape claim against three Arkansas basketball players after local authorities declined to file charges.

Washington County Circuit Judge William A. Storey filed an order asking the state's prosecutor coordinator to recommend someone to take over the case. A lawyer representing the accuser requested a special prosecutor last week, and local prosecutor John Threet filed his own motion yesterday asking the court to appoint one.

Threet said he stands by his decision not to file charges against the players -- but that he wanted to speed up the process of appointing a special prosecutor because "this needs to be an end to this."

Gophers player not allowed to suit up

MINNEAPOLIS -- Junior forward Trevor Mbakwe (muh-BAHK'-way) will not be allowed to play for Minnesota until his pending court case on a felony battery charge is cleared up.

Athletics Director Joel Maturi announced his decision on Mbakwe's status. Mbakwe faces a December trial for an alleged attack on a woman in Miami in April. His attorney has said he's innocent.

Mbakwe can attend classes, practice and participate in team functions, but Maturi says he won't be able to play for the 25th-ranked Gophers until the legal matter "has been resolved in a satisfactory manner."