Will it be UCLA or Duke for top point guard Quinn Cook?

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The biggest drama of the day regarding UCLA basketball could come a few hours before the Bruins play their exhibition opener against Westmont at Pauley Pavilion.

Highly rated point guard Quinn Cook of Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy is expected to announce whether he is committing to UCLA or to Duke sometime after 2 p.m. PDT, Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith told The Times in a brief phone conversation Thursday morning.

Duke is considered the front-runner for Cook, who averaged 20 points, five assists and three rebounds last season as a junior for Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha High. One factor potentially working against the Blue Devils is the uncertain status of freshman point guard Kyrie Irving, who could opt to return for a second college season in the wake of an expected NBA lockout next summer.

Cook would almost certainly be able to start immediately at UCLA, even with junior guards Lazeric Jones and Jerime Anderson expected to return. But Westwood is a long way from home for the Maryland native.

-- Ben Bolch