By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- Junior forward Trevor Mbakwe, one of
Minnesota's touted new recruits, will not be allowed to play for
the 25th-ranked Gophers until his pending court case on a felony
aggravated battery charge is cleared up.

Athletics director Joel Maturi announced Monday his decision on
Mbakwe, who faces a December trial for an alleged attack on a
woman in Miami in April. His attorney, Gregory Samms, told the
Star Tribune newspaper this summer that his client was
mistakenly identified. Samms didn't return messages Monday left
by The Associated Press.

Mbakwe can attend classes, practice and participate in team
functions, but Maturi said he can't play until the legal matter
"has been resolved in a satisfactory manner." Mbakwe also can't
suit up for home games or travel with the team.

Maturi said he has spent the past several weeks speaking "to as
many people as he possibly could" before making what he called a
difficult decision about Mbakwe, who transferred to Minnesota
for this season.

"There's not a person who knows him who didn't respond to me
telling me what great character he has. Everybody said what a
wonderful young man he is, not that we would feel any
differently," Maturi said. "The decision is not at all based on
whether I feel he is innocent or guilty. It's an educational
decision that I feel will allow Trevor to learn from."

If the situation drags out and causes Mbakwe to miss several
games, he could take a redshirt season and still have two years
of eligibility left. Neither coach Tubby Smith nor Mbakwe were
available for comment Monday.

"I think he's very understanding of the situation," Maturi said
of Smith. "He cares for Trevor. He recruited Trevor."

Mbakwe appeared in 11 games during an injury-plagued freshman
season at Marquette after playing for two Twin Cities area high
schools - Henry Sibley in Mendota Heights and St. Bernard's in
St. Paul. He transferred to a junior college in Miami last year
before deciding to return to Minnesota.

If he's allowed to play, Mbakwe will give the Gophers some
needed bulk at the power forward position. He's part of a
nationally lauded recruiting class that includes freshmen Royce
White, Rodney Williams and Justin Cobbs.