Jonah Bolden gives up final two years at UCLA to play professionally

UCLA’s men’s basketball team suffered another defection Tuesday when the school announced that power forward Jonah Bolden had opted to play professionally and would surrender his final two years of eligibility.

The 6-foot-10 Bolden becomes the second Bruin to leave the program this summer after guard Kobe Paras withdrew from school last month because of academic issues. Paras has since signed with Creighton.

Bolden was a part-time starter for the Bruins last season after being declared ineligible as a freshman because his high school transfer from Australia did not conform with NCAA rules. A UCLA spokesman would not comment on Bolden’s academic status at the time of his departure, citing privacy laws.

Bolden averaged 4.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season, starting in 11 of his 31 games. His departure will leave freshman T.J. Leaf and junior Gyorgy Goloman as the team’s top players at power forward.

UCLA will also likely start the season without sophomore guard Prince Ali, who is expected to be out at least four months after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee this month.

Bolden leaves the program a month before UCLA was scheduled to travel to his native Sydney for an exhibition against Australian collegiate players as part of a tour of the country.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch