UCLA G Collison to return for senior season

Apr 27, 2008 - 1:32 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- UCLA guard Darren Collison will not be joining his former teammates at the next level.

Collison announced on Saturday that he will return for his senior season, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Earlier this month, numerous reports stated that Collison and former teammate Kevin Love would enter the NBA draft. Love announced his decision to leave school last week, along with Bruins freshman guard Russell Westbrook and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

According to the Times, the 6-3 Collison thought about entering the draft when his mother received feedback from NBA scouts that had him slated as lottery pick.

However, Collison will not join Love, Westbrook and Mbah a Moute in the NBA ranks.

"I want to give myself the best possible chance to succeed at the next level," Collison told the Times. "I have not made this decision impulsively. I have unfinished business at UCLA. I want to complete my education and when I do enter the draft, I don't want to be just another prospect."

Collison said the decision was not impacted by the influx of supremely talented freshman in this year's draft class.

"This is my decision," Collison said. "It's my personal circumstances. It had nothing to do with anybody else's circumstances. I could have become successful coming into the draft, but this is my chance to do something real special. It had nothing to do with other players coming out."