UCLA's Love to test water

Bruins freshman declares for draft but does not hire agent

UCLA's Kevin Love could be NBA-bound.

Less than two weeks after leading the Bruins to the Final Four, the All-American freshman said Thursday that he'll skip his final three college seasons and enter the NBA Draft.

"I feel like I'm in the right spot to take my game to the next level," Love said Thursday. "Since I was 5 years old, this has been a dream of mine."

The 6-foot-10 center said he did not immediately plan to hire an agent, which would temporarily allow him to keep playing for UCLA.

"I want to maintain my eligibility in case something happens," Love said.

He later added that it's "definitely a possibility" that something could prompt him to change his mind. If he does not hire an agent, he has until June 16 to withdraw his name from the draft.

Love led the Bruins in scoring (17.5 points) and rebounds (10.6) on the way to a 35-win season and a trip to the Final Four, where UCLA lost to Memphis.

Scouts have projected Love to be a top-10 pick in the June 26 draft, UCLA coach Ben Howland said.

"We fully expect that he'll be a very high draft pick," Howland said. "We're behind his decision 100 percent."

Love's teammate, sophomore guard Russell Westbrook, also said Thursday that he's headed to the NBA, as had been expected.

KANSAS' RUSH, ARTHUR HEADED TO NBA: Brandon Rush is headed to the NBA for sure this time. Darrell Arthur may be going with him. Mario Chalmers? He hasn't made up his mind.

Two of Kansas' three biggest stars declared themselves eligible for the draft on Thursday, less than two weeks after helping lead the Jayhawks to their first national title in 20 years.

Rush, who lost his college eligibility by declaring for the NBA Draft a second time, is shopping for an agent and probably will start working out for NBA teams in about a month.

Arthur has yet to hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to Kansas if it appears he isn't going to be drafted high enough.

Chalmers, who hit the shot that got Kansas into overtime in the national title game, is still debating whether to declare for the draft or come back for his senior season.

In other NBA Draft declaration news:

* Louisville forward Earl Clark will return to the Cardinals next season rather than enter the NBA Draft.

TROUBLE IN UK BACKCOURT?: Kentucky guard Derrick Jasper has indicated he's homesick and hasn't decided whether he'll return to the Wildcats next year, coach Billy Gillispie said Thursday.

If Jasper goes home to California, Kentucky could be extremely thin at the guard position.

Two starters, Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford, have graduated. Jodie Meeks underwent surgery this month to repair a bilateral sports hernia.

Another guard, Alex Legion, left the Wildcats early in his freshman season and transferred to Illinois.

OKLAHOMA STATE'S NEW COACH: Oklahoma State's search for a new basketball coach began with rumors of a big paycheck aimed at the leader of the national champions.

It ended with an up-and-coming coach casting his eyes toward the same prize.

Travis Ford was introduced as the Cowboys' coach in Stillwater, Okla., on Thursday, taking over a program that was in the Final Four four years ago and has been ranked in the top 10 in the past 16 months.

"My goals are to take this Oklahoma State basketball program to a national championship," Ford said. "That's why I'm here, and that's what I look forward to doing."

CALDWELL LEAVES LADY VOLS FOR UCLA: Assistant women's coach Nikki Caldwell is leaving national champion Tennessee to become the head coach at UCLA.

CHARLESTON'S NEW ARENA: College of Charleston will open its new basketball arena in style, taking on South Carolina.

Cougars coach Bobby Cremins says his men's team's first game at the Carolina First Center's John Kresse Arena will be on Nov. 17 the Gamecocks.