Today’s the day.
After a week or so of speculation and scattered and sometimes conflicting reports, freshman Kevin Love will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. to formally announce his future plans.
The Los Angeles Times first reported April 8 that Love had decided to make himself eligible for June’s NBA draft. But at a press conference the next day, coach Ben Howland called that report “erroneous.”
Since then, multiple news outlets have gone on to report that Love will enter the draft. Most draft projections currently name Love, who averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and was a first-team All-American, as a mid to late-lottery selection.
If Love decides to enter the draft, he will likely also announce whether he will hire an agent.
By not hiring an agent, Love would give himself until June 16 to potentially withdraw from the draft and return to UCLA for a sophomore season.
The Los Angeles Daily News has reported that Love will not hire an agent until closer to the draft as a precautionary measure against injury or a sudden dropping of his draft stock.
Love will be joined at today’s press conference by Howland and his father, Stan Love.
No official announcement is expected yet on whether junior Darren Collison and sophomore Russell Westbrook will also declare for the draft. College players have until April 27 to declare early entry.