Quote: One half of the Georgia basketball team's potent scoring duo won't be returning to school next season. The other half isn't ready to say whether he'll be back.

Bulldogs basketball coach Jim Harrick said Tuesday that senior guard Ezra Williams won't be returning to the team next season. Williams, from Marietta, could petition the NCAA for another year of eligibility if he graduates after spring semester, but it doesn't appear that will be an option.

Williams was forced to sit out his freshman season in 1999-2000 because he hadn't passed the science portion of the Georgia high school exit exam, making him a partial qualifier under NCAA rules.

"He's probably going to be two or three classes short of [graduating this spring]," Harrick said. "He made that decision last year. He knew what he had to do."

Williams is enjoying his best season at Georgia. Going into Wednesday night's game against Tennessee in Stegeman Coliseum, Williams is averaging 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds. He is shooting 47.6 percent on 3-pointers, sixth-best in the SEC and 14th nationally.

"So far I think it's been my best season," Williams said. "As long as I stay consistent the rest of the way, that's going to be the key."

Bulldogs forward Jarvis Hayes, who leads the nation in 3-point shooting at 54.7 percent, says it isn't a foregone conclusion that he'll leave Georgia after this season. Hayes, who is averaging 18.2 points after leading the SEC in scoring last season, is projected as a late first-round pick if he enters this summer's NBA draft.

"We'll see what happens," Hayes said. "We've got a lot of season left to play."

Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson sure thinks Hayes is ready for the NBA. He compared Hayes to NBA star Michael Jordan, who was Peterson's roommate when both played at North Carolina.

"He kind of reminds me a little bit of my old roommate in the way he has learned to stroke that thing a lot better," Peterson said. "I think he's a heck of a player. Every year, he has gotten better and better. I don't know if he's going to be like a Michael, but he has some of the same tendencies."

Harrick says Hayes would benefit from returning for another season at Georgia. Scouts have concerns about Hayes' defense and ball-handling.

"He has become a shutdown defender," Harrick said. "I think he needs to drive to the basket a little better. . . . I'd still take him despite all his deficiencies."