Tony Barbee felt it was worth the risk. 

The UTEP head coach, who had recruited Derrick Caracter for two years back when he was an assistant at Memphis, decided that it was the right move to bring the talented 6-foot-8 New Jersey native on board. 

Here's the thing: Caracter won't be on scholarship for the rest of this season - and will pay his own way with the help of financial aid. 

If Caracter isn't a major problem - as he was for much of his two years in Louisville - and gets his academics in order, Barbee will keep him around for next season.

Barbee knows he's not getting any McDonald's All-Americans to El Paso, so he feels as though if Caracter somehow sheds the "lazy" label he's earned just about every stop he's made through the years, he could have a guy who can stack up with anyone in the league. 

``People forget he just turned 20 years old," Barbee said. "People make mistakes. I'm hoping he can learn from them and if he can, I think he can be a heck of a player. But he's not coming here to be the savior."

``It's going to be a struggle, but this is his chance to prove he can do it for him rather than doing it for other people," he added.