Sources: Love to leave UCLA

The sources said both players planned to remain in good academic standing, so their leaving early would not potentially cost the Bruins a scholarship. Programs that do not meet certain NCAA requirements for graduating players risk such penalties. Because UCLA is on a quarter system and instruction in the spring quarter started just last week, both players may still withdraw from classes without penalty.

Love is expected to return to his family's Lake Oswego, Ore., home later this week before coming back for UCLA's team banquet on Monday.

The Bruins may also lose Russell Westbrook, a sophomore. He played opposite Collison but moved to the point when Collison was injured early this season.

One scout projected Westbrook as a possible lottery pick, and the guard's family has indicated that he would probably leave school if expectations were that he would go early. He had a career-high 22 points against Memphis and, at 6-3, 190 pounds, was the one UCLA player suited to run, jump and bump with the Tigers.

It's also possible the Bruins could lose as many as four other players.

Debbie Shipp, mother of redshirt junior Josh Shipp, said it was too soon to make a decision about his future, though her son's two-month long shooting slump and the fact he has had surgery on each of his hips the last two years make him a questionable prospect for the draft's first round. Only players picked in the first round are guaranteed contracts.

Junior Luc Richard Mbah a Moute may, like Shipp, make himself eligible for the April 27 draft, not hire an agent, be evaluated, then come back to school.

Junior Alfred Aboya, who will earn his degree this summer, has indicated he may not use his final year of basketball eligibility and concentrate on getting a master's degree. Sophomore reserve Nikola Dragovic said he is considering going home to Serbia to play professionally.

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Times staff writer Mark Heisler contributed to this report.

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diane.pucin@latimes.com