Michigan coach Tommy Amaker is considered by many to have a golden touch when it comes to recruiting the best players.

Several recruiting analysts say that despite the recent indictment of banned Michigan booster Ed Martin and its impending consequences on the basketball program, Amaker's appeal won't lose its luster.

The scandal is "something you have to overcome, but Michigan has enough of other things going on that are positive for (the indictment)," said HoopScoop recruiting analyst Clark Francis.

"I still like the position Michigan is in for next couple years recruiting-wise."

Following his previous recruiting successes as an assistant at Duke and as head coach at Seton Hall, Amaker nabbed a top-10 freshmen class for Michigan next season.

Incoming recruits Lester Abram and Graham Brown told The Michigan Daily yesterday that they still intend to don the maize and blue next fall, and that even possible NCAA sanctions wouldn't hold them back.

Analysts say the same should be expected from the other three members of the class, including superstar point guard Daniel Horton - not to mention future classes.

That includes top junior prospect Dion Harris from Detroit Redford, who lost the Class A state championship game to Abram's Pontiac Northern team at the Breslin Center on Saturday.

"If Dion Harris is going to Michigan, he's going to Michigan anyway," said Francis, who said he believes Michigan is still in the drivers seat to nab the talented guard.

Mark Mayemura, an editor of Recruiting USA and a recruiting analyst for ESPN.com, agrees with Francis, saying that Michigan recruiting will still be in good shape.

"In the mind of the young basketball players, (the scandal) doesn't matter," said Mayemura.

"Aside from the death penalty, they will be able to deal with it."

Francis said there are several reasons for this positive outlook. For example, Michigan still has many positives to offer, including a young and bright coaching staff, the ability to offer significant playing time to top big men right away and academic prowess.

Francis also mentioned that some of the kids Michigan is trying to go after - those with "inner-city toughness" or those with a "chip on his shoulder" - would have a different view on the scandal.

Francis said those types of recruits often think that the accused players didn't do anything wrong by trying to help themselves out of a tough situation.

"I don't think a inner-city, poor kid - regardless of what color he is - looks at things the same way as middle class," Francis said. "They're not in the same world."

While charges like those involving Ed Martin and former Michigan players are serious, and may symbolize what is wrong with collegiate athletics, Francis said that for some kids, they don't see "beating the system" as something terribly wrong.

"They think, 'so some rich guy came out there and befriended you and gave you money? Big deal,'" Francis said.

When he became Michigan's coach last spring, Amaker said that he wanted to use the "Fab Five" as a recruiting tool.

Analysts say that plan won't be affected too much by the Martin scandal. The crown jewel of the "Fab Five", Chris Webber, received $280,000 from Martin according to the indictment, but Mayemura says the current Sacramento Kings' forward won't lose many reputation points.

"I don't think this impacts (Webber) negatively," Mayemura said. "He is still one of the most popular players. By default, Michigan benefits from that."

And Francis said that because its been 10 years since the "Fab Five" took the college basketball world by storm, Michigan's current recruits may be too young to remember.

"Most won't remember the "Fab Five" when they were playing for Michigan," Francis said. "They may have early memories, but they were like five, six or seven years old then."

Both analysts said that winning basketball games is an important factor that will help the recruiting process improve at Michigan.

Fortunately for Michigan fans, they see good days ahead for Amaker's program.

"There is no doubt that Amaker will win 20 games," Mayemura said. "Michigan has a great coaching staff. They will earn their big paychecks."

And if the coaches can earn their paychecks, any future NCAA sanctions will become less significant in the recruiting process.

"Winning is a lot more important than what the NCAA does," Francis said. "If they start winning games, the rest will take care of itself."