TUCSON, Ariz. --

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Erick Barkley and Lavor Postell will play for St. John's in the NCAA Tournament this weekend despite investigations into their eligibility.

"There is nothing pending right now in terms of their eligibility," a person close to the investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Unless new accusations arise, St. John's, the second seed in the West Regional, will not have to play the tournament without two of its best players, the source said.

"We took care of business," Postell said. "We are both here. ... We just want to get back to academics and keep playing basketball and hopefully winning games."

Barkley said he was "confident" the NCAA inquiry was behind him. Coach Mike Jarvis said he hadn't heard that his players were in the clear, but was hopeful the news was true.

"I like to listen to my players," Jarvis said. "I'm very glad Erick is here and he said that. I hope he is right."

Barkley, the leading scorer, has been suspended twice already this season for three games for violating the NCAA's rules on amateurism.

"It's been stressful, I'll admit that," Barkley said. "I think I'm in Arizona with a pretty clear head. I just need to stay focused right now."

Jarvis hopes the questions surrounding his eligibility for St. John's first-round game Thursday night against 15th-seeded Northern Arizona won't affect the team.

"All I can tell them is just take care of today and try not to look over their shoulder," Jarvis said. "Once again, it would only be natural for them to worry about looking over their shoulder. We've already learned that anything can happen 10 minutes before game time."

Barkley, suspended minutes before a game against Seton Hall on Feb. 29, and Postell reportedly met with NCAA investigators Monday to discuss their relationship with Rob Johnson, a "basketball consultant" who says he helps match high school players with college coaches.

The NCAA would not confirm a meeting took place or that the players are clear to play.

"Ultimately, it is the school's responsibility to determine the eligibility of its players," NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said. "If you're asking about some sort of comment about any investigation about a particular university, our policy is not to confirm or deny any of the work of our enforcement staff."

Barkley also has been questioned about an SAT test he took as a student at Maine Central Institute, a prep school in Pittsfield, Maine.

Barkley first ran into trouble with the NCAA in February when he was suspended for three games for exchanging vehicles with a family friend. After an appeal, that punishment was reduced to two games.

On Feb. 29, St. John's was forced to declare Barkley ineligible, and he missed that night's victory over Seton Hall. The NCAA requested further information regarding payment of part of Barkley's tuition at Maine Central Institute for the 1997-98 academic year.

He was reinstated on March 3, but the NCAA ruled he would have to pay back $3,500 of his $22,000 tuition, which St. John's said Barkley received from Riverside Church, a New York AAU program for which he played. He can donate the money to a charity of his choice, and has until his eligibility expires to do so.

In the Big East tournament semifinal, Barkley got into a halftime confrontation with teammate Bootsy Thornton and announced after the game he would take a leave of absence from the team. Barkley changed his mind the next day and was picked to the all-tournament team after helping the Red Storm beat Connecticut 80-70.