Collison will keep UCLA a contender

Darren Collison staying one more year? Who would’ve guessed that?

Certainly not the people who gave “confirmed” reports that he had decided to declare for the NBA Draft a couple days after the Bruins’ loss to Memphis. Definitely not everyone who thought he was as good as gone after this season, ready to hand the reigns over to incoming freshman Jrue Holiday.

Surprise, surprise. Collison’s back.

He could’ve made the easy choice, one that nobody would’ve been mad at him for. He could’ve followed the money trail to Madison Square Garden next month for the draft, been taken in the first round, locked up a few million dollars guaranteed and been done. Nothing wrong with that.

He could’ve followed teammates Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Josh Shipp to test the NBA waters. Announcing his intentions to jump to the next level without hiring an agent would’ve allowed him to return to Westwood if his stock wasn’t high enough. No crime in that.

He even could’ve declared for the draft, hired an agent and fully capitalized on the three excellent years he was here. Can’t blame a guy for that.

Instead, he took all the time he needed, which was one day short of the deadline to declare, and made the decision that should have Bruin fans camping out at CTO for basketball tickets.

He’s got unfinished business in Pauley Pavilion. It’s as simple as that.

As he explained in a Saturday teleconference, it’s not about the money, and it’s not about the moves everyone else is making to turn pro early. His decision was his alone, aided by the fact that his family’s financial stability means there’s no underlying need for D.C. to cash in quickly.

“When I kept looking at it,” Collison said on Saturday, “(I realized if I were to leave) it was because I was going high, because I was going to be a lottery player, because of the money. And that’s not what I wanted to do.”

In an era when college players turn down school to jump at NBA money, which you can’t blame them for doing, it’s refreshing to see somebody of D.C.’s caliber sticking around for just one more year.

Especially when he’s this good.

If he stays healthy, he’s got every shot to make everyone’s All-America list next season. He and Jrue Holiday will probably be the two best guards in the country. His leadership on the team is unquestioned.

Now, all of sudden, with one announcement over the phone, the 2008-2009 Bruins are suddenly championship contenders again. UCLA will no doubt have the deepest backcourt in the country, filled with guys who can not only score on a whim but also defend the ball like nobody’s business.

As much as it hurts to have scoring threats Love and Westbrook leave early, next year’s team has every chance of making it back to the Final Four. With Collison and Holiday starting together, no matter who else is out there with them, they’re instantly a nightmare for other teams.

Let’s just put it this way: those free burritos for scoring 100? You can expect plenty.

With Collison back, the only thing lacking is an experienced post presence.

And if D.C. can talk Luc into playing one more year and pulling down some hardware? Well, that’s another story.

E-mail Feder at jfeder@media.ucla.edu if you would’ve taken the money and bought a championship banner.

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