University of Georgia President Michael Adams says the school will continue to accept some student athletes who do not meet admission requirements despite an NCAA report that shows poor graduation rates for men's basketball and football teams.

Adams told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview Wednesday the university still has to compete in the Southeastern Conference.

Figures released last week by the NCAA show only nine percent of UGA men's basketball players and 41 percent of its football players who were accepted from 1996-1999 graduated within six years.

The basketball rate was the second-worst among the 319 Division I institutions that fielded teams. Both rates were the worst among 12 Southeastern Conference teams.

Many major college sports programs routinely recruit athletes who have grades that are lower than the general student population. UGA football coach Mark Richt has said it's necessary to take calculated recruiting risks since coaches' job security often depends on whether they can lead their team to a bowl game or berth in the NCAA tournament.