UCLA's Mbah a Moute decides to keep name in NBA draft

Today was the deadline for players who had declared for the draft to withdraw in order to maintain their college eligibility.

UCLA scheduled a 3:30 p.m. conference call with Coach Ben Howland and a 6 p.m. call with Mbah a Moute to "field . . . questions about his future plans."

Meantime, the school put out a news release quoting both the player and coach.

"After speaking to my family and going through the process, I feel like the time is right for me to take the next step in my basketball career and keep my name in the NBA draft," the release quoted Mbah a Moute as saying. "I had the greatest time of my life at UCLA. Starting in three straight Final Fours and winning three straight Pac-10 titles is something I'll never forget."

Said Howland: "Luc had a great career at UCLA, and I'm really proud of everything he helped our team accomplish during his tenure as a player. He was the freshman of the year in the conference, won three Pac-10 titles and started in three Final Fours, but, more than anything, he is a winner."

Mbah a Moute, a 6-foot-8 forward from Cameroon, attended the Orlando pre-draft camp last month and has worked out with at least five NBA teams, including Dallas this morning.

In Orlando, Mbah a Moute said he was eager to start his NBA career even as a second-round pick.

"That would be OK if I got some guarantees," he said.

Mbah a Moute, who was honorable mention all conference, averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds last season. His 775 career rebounds rank him No. 15 on UCLA's all-time list.

Also today, Chase Budinger decided to stay at Arizona, and it was announced that Ty Lawson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington will all return to North Carolina.

diane.pucin@latimes.com