Harrick Puts Turmoil Behind Him : College basketball: Things have settled down for the UCLA coach after a season filled with questions.

UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick had a contented smile at Thursday’s news conference previewing the opening of preseason practice. And he should.

He has established assistants, four touted high school seniors ready to commit and a contract extension through 1997.

It’s a decided change from a year ago when he faced an uncertain future with new assistants, no recruits and a contract that was to have expired after this season.

Now, the questions are about who will rebound, with Rodney Zimmerman, George Zidek and Ike Nwankwo trying for the center job. A bigger, stronger Ed O’Bannon is back at power forward. He led last year’s rebounders with seven per game.

UCLA is ranked anywhere from 10th to 22nd in the country, depending on which magazine you buy, and Harrick said, “That’s about right. If we answer our question marks, we can be 10th. If we don’t, 22nd.�

That rebounds are the primary concern as practice begins Saturday is a sign that there is stability at UCLA.

“I don’t think it bothered the players last year,� Harrick said about his contract. But it bothered the recruiting. At every stop, assistant coaches were asked by high school seniors about the future, and the answers yielded no recruits during last year’s early signing period.

This year, they have been told by 6-foot-10 omm’A Givens, from Aberdeen, Wash.; 6-8 J.R. Henderson of East Bakersfield, 6-5 Toby Bailey of Loyola High and 6-5 Kris Johnson of Crenshaw that letters of intent extended on Nov. 10 would be welcomed.

Johnson is the son of former Bruin Marques Johnson.

“A lot of these things go in cycles,� Harrick said. “This year, we seized the opportunity. Last year we were hurt by losing two assistant coaches at the same time. This year, we secured the guys we got real early.�

Former UCLA assistants Brad Holland and Tony Fuller went to head jobs with Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State, respectively. In their places, Lorenzo Romar and Steve Lavin have become established in a season.

This season Charles O’Bannon joins his brother Ed on the court for the first time since they were in high school at Artesia.

“He’s a great player,� Ed O’Bannon said, “And there’s two reasons I’m looking forward to playing with him: because he’s a great player and because he’s my own flesh and blood.

“He shoots better than me and he jumps higher than I can. I think he’s more fluid.�

Ed O’Bannon added that knee problems that have given him problems since he got to UCLA are in the past.

Opponents will do a double-take when the two are on the floor at the same time. Ed wears No. 31, and Charles, who wore 30 in high school, has adopted No. 13 in honor of his brother.

“A lot of people think that 13 is a bad-luck number,� Charles O’Bannon said. “I want to change that.�

Harrick has one more scholarship to give, with the top guard in the East, Felipe Lopez, of New York Rice High, reportedly saying he would include UCLA in his five visits, with St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Florida State.

But the fifth scholarship could stay closer to home, with Jelani Gardner of St. John Bosco being courted.

Either way, Harrick looks forward to a season of peace, with a deeper, more experienced team.