Howland points to Westbrook

UCLA Coach Ben Howland said Wednesday that if sophomore Russell Westbrook chooses to return to UCLA next season, he would be the starting point guard, even while saying that junior point guard Darren Collison had not decided about returning to UCLA for his senior season.

“If Russell comes back, he is our starting point guard,” Howland said at his end-of-season news conference.

Asked what that meant for Collison, Howland said, “It would probably be the same thing, but we’d have more depth.”

Later, UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said in an e-mail that what Howland meant was, “The way it was this year, where [Collison and Westbrook] shared the point and shooting guard spots, not that Russell would start at the point no matter what. That’s only if Russell comes back and Darren does not.”

Howland also said that neither Collison nor freshman center Kevin Love had made a decision about leaving for the NBA. Sources close to the players, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not yet authorized to make an announcement, have told The Times both will make themselves available for the NBA draft.

At a Monday meeting with Love, Howland said he gave the Pacific 10 Conference player of the year his best advice about Love’s draft status.

“I basically went over all the information I had in my possession, where he’s projected, here are the pluses, here are the minuses,” Howland said. “My role in his decision is to support whatever he does.”

Howland said it was “not accurate” that Love has made up his mind to leave UCLA, though he said Love flew home to Lake Oswego, Ore., Wednesday to consult with his family and to celebrate his father Stan’s birthday.

Howland said Love might be drafted as high as fourth.

“What we’re hearing is he’ll definitely go high, he’s definitely in the lottery based on today . . . most likely between five and 10, 5-12,” Howland said. “Darren is somewhere right now between 15 and 25 and Russell in the same range.”

Collison’s mother, June, said her son was evaluating his options for next season.

“The decision will be made within our family,” she said.

Westbrook’s father, Russell Sr., has not returned calls.

UCLA’s incoming four-man recruiting class features three highly regarded guards, including high school player of the year Jrue Holiday of North Hollywood Campbell Hall.

If Love leaves, Howland said, junior Alfred Aboya would play center, though Howland also confirmed Aboya may choose to quit basketball and concentrate on getting his master’s degree, calling that possibility a “huge blow.” Aboya is on track to graduate this summer.

“I hope that Alfred does come back,” Howland said. “But that’s his decision. He has issues within his family, his dad is diabetic, his mom has high blood pressure and need medications that cost significant amounts of money. That is a stress on him.”

Howland said that with the possible early departures of Love, Aboya and junior forwards Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Josh Shipp, who may also test the NBA draft waters, as well as the graduation of senior center Lorenzo Mata-Real, the fourth incoming freshman, 6-foot-9 forward Drew Gordon, would get extensive playing time.

While UCLA coaches have expected Love and Collison to leave after this season, they hope to keep Westbrook. Howland said he would advise the Westbrook family that if the 6-3 guard chooses to explore his NBA options that he do so without an agent’s help.

Players have until April 27 to declare whether they want to be included in the NBA draft and if they haven’t hired an agent or previously declared for the draft, have until June 16 to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

“I think agents don’t affect where you get drafted, they don’t affect the first two years of your contract,” Howland said. “I suggest to all players to keep all their options open.”

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diane.pucin@latimes.com