It’s looking possible UCLA basketball could be without up to four players next season, according to sources.

Three first-year players -- Kris Wilkes, Jaylen Hands and Cody Riley -- currently have their names in the NBA Draft, and verbally committed 2019 recruit Shareef O'Neal is trying to become academically eligible.

Various sources are telling Bruin Report Online that it's a long shot Riley returns to UCLA due to academic ineligibility; Wilkes is likely to remain in the NBA Draft; Hands very well could remain in the Draft and settle for the NBA G League if not drafted; and O’Neal more than likely won’t qualify academically to enroll.

The possibility of losing all four for next season would be a devastating blow to UCLA’s 2018-2019 roster. It would leave UCLA with just nine scholarship players, and only three with college playing experience.

The most likely of the four not to return, from what sources are indicating, is Riley, due to not being in good academic standing at UCLA. Sources are telling us Riley isn’t even enrolled at UCLA for the spring quarter. It was a bit puzzling why Riley, who was suspended for the 2017-2018 season due to the shoplifting incident in China, put his name in the NBA Draft, but it makes sense now in light of recent information about his academics.

Sources have indicated there is a chance that both Wilkes and Hands return, but it’s more likely Wilkes doesn’t and “50-50” for Hands.

Going into the NBA Draft Combine last week, it was felt by sources close to Wilkes that he would keep his name in the Draft and not return. His Combine performance last week, however, has made that less of a slam dunk, according to those same sources. When asked by the Indy Star what his intentions were, Wilkes said, “I see myself as a first-rounder. If the teams don’t think so, I’ll go back to school. I’ll kill it and there won’t be [any] option about it next year.” Inside sources, though, have said he’s still seriously considering staying in the Draft even if projected to be taken in the second round.

Hands’ performance at the Combine, too, also tended to cloud any certainty about what he’ll do. He had a mixed result at the workout, showing flashes of potential but also some limitations. As a result, most observers and media pundits concluded he should return to college for next season. A source close to the situation said, however, that Hands doesn’t like college and has had a contentious relationship with UCLA head coach Steve Alford. It is thought that Hands is contemplating staying in the Draft with the intention of going to the NBA G League (the NBA’s developmental league) if he’s not drafted.

Early entrants for the NBA Draft would have to withdraw their name by June 11 to be able to return to college next season. The Draft is June 21st.

Jaylen Hands

O’Neal, the 6-9 forward and son of NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, verbally committed to UCLA in February, after decommitting from Arizona. BRO reported at the time that O’Neal getting admitted academically to UCLA would be an issue, and O’Neal didn’t sign a National Letter of Intent during the signing period in April. We’ve heard that O’Neal has been making an effort to, indeed, become eligible, but recent information leads us to believe it’s unlikely. O’Neal is the nation’s No. 38-ranked prospect nationally in the 2019 class, and it was anticipated he’d provide UCLA some immediate help next season in its frontcourt.

While losing all four players for next season, as we said, would be a considerable blow, just losing one or two of Wilkes, Hands and Riley would be a significant setback for next year’s team. Wilkes is easily projected as the team’s leading scorer next year. Hands was expected to be the starting point guard, and that role will now fall to a true freshman, Tyger Campbell. Riley, who was an elite prospect out of high school and spent this school year practicing with the team while suspended, was clearly expected to be a starter in the frontcourt as well.