UCLA Coach Ben Howland said the potential of an NBA lockout will influence his advice to Bruins players deciding whether to declare for the draft, intimating that it might lead him to encourage them to return to college.

"I can tell you in the NBA, in my opinion, this is going to be a serious lockout," Howland said Tuesday. "They will not be playing, in my opinion, next December and maybe even January. … You're not even going to get paid next year for half the year."

College underclassmen have until April 24 to declare for the draft and can withdraw by May 8 to retain amateur eligibility, as long as they do not hire an agent.