Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a starter on three UCLA Final Four teams, said Monday he would hire an agent and forgo his final year of college eligibility in favor of making himself eligible for the NBA draft.
Mbah a Moute is projected by most experts to be chosen about midway through the second round, where a guaranteed contract isn't likely, but he said he is convinced he will be on an NBA roster next season.
"I feel like I had a good career at UCLA," Mbah a Moute said. "Now I feel like I want to take on a new challenge."
Mbah a Moute, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward, didn't start playing basketball until he was 15 in his native Cameroon. Last season, he averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds.
UCLA Coach Ben Howland said Mbah a Moute called him Monday with the news.
"Luc made his own decision based on all the information he had gathered," Howland said. "It looks like he's slated to be a second-rounder and I hope he gets drafted by the right team that will truly appreciate his strengths. He's special for me."
Monday was the deadline for college players to withdraw their names from NBA consideration and still retain NCAA eligibility. Most did exactly that.
Guard Josh Akognon will return to Cal State Fullerton, where he led the Titans with a 20.2 scoring average last season.
Also, Chase Budinger decided to stay at Arizona, and it was announced that Ty Lawson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington would all return to North Carolina.
-- Diane Pucin
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COLLEGE BASEBALL
Georgia defeats Stanford, 4-3
Matt Cerione's two-out, bases-loaded single drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and three Georgia pitchers combined for six innings of shutout relief to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-3 victory over Stanford in the College World Series at Omaha.
The Bulldogs (43-23-1) remained undefeated in the double-elimination tournament. It was the first loss for Stanford (40-23-2).
Jemile Weeks hit his second home run of the College World Series and Miami (53-10) held off Florida State, 7-5, in an elimination game.
Florida State ends the season at 54-14.
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PRO FOOTBALL
Texans sign free-agent linebacker Colvin
Free-agent linebacker Rosevelt Colvin signed with the Houston Texans, giving the team another pass rusher to pair with 2006 No. 1 draft pick Mario Williams.
Colvin spent five years with the Patriots and was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams, but was released by New England in February.
