Love Planning to Declare for Draft; Mass UCLA Exodus?

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, UCLA freshman center Kevin Love is ready to announce his intentions to enter the NBA Draft. Sources said the announcement could come as soon as Wednesday. Furthermore, the sources said Love is declaring because of the injury risk that comes with staying in school, and also because the money he will get from being a likely lottery pick is too much to pass up. The 6-10 big man averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this past season, helping lead the Bruins to the Final Four.

Update: According to Jeff Goodman of FOXSports.com, Love has not made up his mind. "I haven't decided yet," Love said. "I still have some holes to fill on the whole thing, but I should know by the end of the week. I won't make a decision until at least Thursday." He added that he went home to Portland this past weekend to discuss the decision with his family. "I went home to figure a lot of things out and it was the perfect place to clear my head of any distractions. It's such a tough decision because so much is at stake and there is my career looming in the back of my head."

The Daily News also reports that the coaching staff expects junior point guard Darren Collison and sophomore guard Russell Westbrook to enter their names in the NBA Draft. Additionally, juniors Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Josh Shipp are weighing the possibility of testing the Draft waters without hiring an agent, and then taking their names out if they are not satisfied with their feedback.