Kevon Looney leaving UCLA early for NBA draft

LOS ANGELES -- Kevon Looney is leaving UCLA after one season to enter the NBA draft.

The forward from Milwaukee averaged 11.6 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds as a freshman. His 15 double-doubles were tops among freshmen nationally, and his rebounds were second best nationally among freshmen. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Looney says it was "a really tough decision" because there were many reasons to stay or go. He says playing in the NBA has been a longtime dream, and it feels like the right time to pursue it.

Looney says coming to UCLA was the best decision he ever made. He expressed gratitude to coach Steve Alford in a statement released Monday by the school.

Alford says Looney was a hard-working, humble player who was an even better person off the court.

The Bruins were 22-14 overall and reached the sweet 16 for the second straight year.