Joshua Smith was once considered one of the more promising NBA center prospects in college basketball.

Smith transfered from UCLA on Wednesday.

Smith has struggled with his weight throughout his time with the Bruins.

"The kid has eaten himself out of a career," said one NBA scout.

Joshua Smith has decided to leave the UCLA basketball program, citing “personal reasons.”

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at UCLA and am grateful for the opportunity that has been presented to me here," Smith said in a statement.

The 6-foot-10 Smith, who was listed at 305 pounds, battled weight issues throughout his career and played sparingly this season. 

A West Coast-based NBA scout speaking on the condition of anonymity said Smith has the size, skill set and talent to be the most dominant center in college basketball.

"You're talking about someone who had the world in his palm," the scout said. "It's a tragic story."

The scout said an NBA team is likely to take a chance on drafting Smith in the second round if he decides to continue playing basketball, because "you just don't pass up on his size and skill set as a 20-year-old."

Junior guard Tyler Lamb has decided to transfer from UCLA.

Lamb played in just one game this season for UCLA after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in October.

UCLA freshmen Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams and Shabazz Muhammad have all played well this season, which has created a logjam ahead of Lamb.

"We are very sad to see Tyler leave our program," UCLA Coach Ben Howland said in a statement. "He is a great kid, and we have really enjoyed having him play for UCLA. We fully support his decision, and we wish him all the best in the future." 

Stephen Clark will announce his college decision at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30, according to a report.

Clark, a 5-foot-10 guard, reportedly favors Baylor and Oklahoma State, with UCLA and Missouri also in the mix.

Shabazz Muhammad had 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting in 25 minutes in his UCLA debut on Monday against Georgetown.

"I can get a lot better," said Muhammad. "I didn't think I played really well tonight."

Muhammad did not appear to be in game shape.

"He's got a lot of work to put in conditioning-wise to catch up," said Ben Howland.

Isaac Hamilton committed to Texas-El Paso on Friday.

Hamilton, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Los Angeles, is ranked as the No. 25 recruit of the 2013 class.

Hamilton picked UTEP over UCLA, UNLV and San Diego State.

Hamilton is the younger brother of Jordan Hamilton.

Shabazz Muhammad has been reinstated by the NCAA to play immediately for UCLA after the university "acknowledged amateurism violations" in an appeal to the association.

"The university required the student-athlete to miss 10 percent of the season (three games) and repay approximately $1,600 in impermissible benefits. The NCAA agreed the actions taken by the university were sufficient. Because Muhammad has already sat out three games, he is now eligible to compete," said the NCAA in a statement.

Muhammad made unofficial recruiting visits to North Carolina and Duke that were paid for by North Carolina-based financial adviser Ben Lincoln.

UCLA is appealing to the NCAA committee Friday to make Shabazz Muhammad eligible.

"Exactly what time I can't even tell you that," Bruins coach Ben Howland said on a conference call. "I've honestly never been through one of these so I don't know how quickly they're resolved. ... I really don't know."

Muhammad was ruled ineligible Nov. 9 due to a violation of amateurism rules.

"We're very hopeful and remain very positive about Shabazz," Howland said. "We've been very cooperative with the NCAA, and the family has, too. Shabazz and his family have been unbelievably cooperative.

"We'll be very excited once we get him back. ... He's a great talent. He's a great kid. He works extremely hard. Has a great motor. I think he's going to be a heck of a player."

Attorneys representing Shabazz Muhammad are calling for the NCAA to drops its investigation and declare him eligible based on an overheard conversation on an Aug. 7 commuter flight.

Muhammad is a freshman at UCLA and one of the top recruits of the 2012 class.

An email from an attorney said she was seated behind a man who was speaking loudly about the work of his girlfriend, an "attorney with the NCAA."

The girlfriend, whom he identified as "Abigail," was investigating Muhammad. The man made it clear that the NCAA would find Muhammad ineligible and not allow him to play this season, the email said. 

Abigail Grantstein, an assistant director of enforcement, is the NCAA's lead investigator on the Muhammad case.

The attorney confirmed her story in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. She was concerned about the lack of confidentiality and "the cavalier discussion of this young man's future being tossed about for everyone to hear."

The NCAA had not seen the email and did not know it existed until it was brought to the organization's attention Wednesday, spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said.

The 2012-13 college basketball season is underway, which means attention to the 2013 NBA Draft is already being paid.

ESPN's Chad Ford has Cody Zeller, Nerlens Noel, Shabazz Muhammad, Alex Len and James Michael McAdoo in his top-5 in no particular order.

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express has Muhammad, Noel, Zeller, Rudy Gobert of Cholet and McAdoo in his current mock draft. Len is currently slotted 14th.

"Only player that I've made some major revisions on is Alex Len of Maryland," said Ford. "Just think he took a major leap over the summer and at 7-1 with his skill set, he's going to be a Top 5 pick. Reminds me a little bit of a young Ilgauskas."