The UCLA Bruins, still reeling from three-straight losses, are losing one of their top players to transfer before the start of Pac-10 play.

Sophomore forward Drew Gordon has decided to leave the program at the end of the quarter. In six games for the Bruins, Gordon is averaging over 11 points and five rebounds. However, in the last two games, he has scored a combined 10 points and pulled in just five total rebounds.

"The UCLA system is very methodical, and Drew is better as a transition player," Gordon's mother Shelly told the San Jose Mercury News. "When you spend that much time and effort on something, you have to feel some gratification. We wanted to make the change now rather than wait and hope the situation gets better. The timing is terrible: It looks like he's leaving because they lost a bunch of games.

"But that's not what happened."

Gordon’s teammates were shocked at his decision. Coach Ben Howland is forced to juggle his starting five and will share those minutes with freshman forward Reeves Nelson and senior forward James Keefe.

UCLA is just 2-4 SU to start the year and has covered in only one of its four lined games. The Bruins face the nation’s No. 1 team, the Kansas Jayhawks this Sunday.