Mbah a Moute will try NBA route too

It is a decision Luc Richard Mbah a Moute made on his own, independent from teammates who are taking the same path, and made with the blessing of UCLA Coach Ben Howland if not necessarily his recommendation.

Mbah a Moute, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound junior forward, on Friday afternoon became the third Bruin in two days to make himself available for the NBA draft. Freshman center Kevin Love and sophomore guard Russell Westbrook did the same Thursday.

All three have put off hiring agents so if they receive bad evaluations or suffer an injury before June 16 they could withdraw from the June 26 draft and return to UCLA.

Unlike Love and Westbrook, who are first-round NBA picks in nearly every expert’s pre-draft list, Mbah a Moute is currently seen as a second-round pick, Howland said of his preliminary talks with NBA general managers. Only first-round selections receive guaranteed contracts.

When asked whether he advised Mbah a Moute to enter his name into the draft, Howland said, “I supported him because I knew this is what he wants to do. I didn’t say, ‘Luc, go put your name in the draft.’ ”

While he has played mostly power forward in his three UCLA seasons, Mbah a Moute said he understood NBA teams would want him to play small forward.

He averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds this year and missed six games because of a sprained ankle and a concussion. Mbah a Moute had his best statistical season as a freshman when he averaged 9.1 points and 8.2 rebounds and he has started 106 of the 107 games he has played for UCLA.

While saying he needed to improve the consistency of his jump shot to play small forward, Mbah a Moute said he was leaning toward staying in the draft if his individual team workouts result in positive feedback.

“As of right now,” Mbah a Moute said, “I guess I probably will go. If I get good feedback from different teams after working out, I would probably go ahead and keep my name in.”

Players must declare by April 27 if they wish to enter the draft. NBA teams can start scheduling private workouts with college players beginning May 3. The NBA lottery is May 20 and the pre-draft camp in Orlando is May 27-29.

Typically players projected as high- to mid-level first round picks don’t play in Orlando. Two years ago UCLA point guard Jordan Farmar played well, which may have earned him a first-round draft position. Howland said he would encourage Mbah a Moute to play in Orlando.

From May 30 to June 2 physicals are given to players predicted as first-round choices. “Kevin will be invited to that,” Howland said, “Russell will be.”

Mbah a Moute said he had not spoken with Love or Westbrook.

“We each made our decision individually,” Mbah a Moute said. “Everybody is doing what’s best for them.”

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