BRIEFLY : BAIUL UNDERGOES ALCOHOL REHAB.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Olympic gold medal-winning skater Oksana Baiul is in alcohol rehab, a year after she crashed her car into a cluster of trees in a drunk-driving accident.

``This is a positive move for her and by her,'' said her agent, Shelley Schultz. He said the 20-year-old volunteered to enter a program last week and will stay about a month. He declined to say where Baiul was being treated.

Baiul, once a wisp of a skater who soared to the gold medal for Ukraine at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, is part of the Champions on Ice tour of 70 cities. She is expected to resume her tour schedule after her rehab stay.

COLLEGES: Big 12 commissioner Steve Hatchell, who helped form the league in 1995, has resigned, saying he and the conference need a change. Sources told The Associated Press last month that Hatchell was leaving under pressure.

Stanford guard Arthur Lee of North Hollywood was one of 33 college players invited to try out for the 1998 USA Basketball men's national team that will compete in the July 19-24 Goodwill Games.

Claiming its case wasn't given a fair hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Vratil, the NCAA said it will appeal the $67 million judgment awarded to assistant coaches whose salaries it unlawfully restricted.

NBA: Suspended Golden State Warriors forward Latrell Sprewell has rejected a pretrial offer in his reckless driving case that could have sent him to jail for 90 to 120 days, his lawyer said.

Sprewell faces as much as six months in jail if convicted of misdemeanor reckless driving.