Steve Alford has been hired to become the next head coach at UCLA, replacing Ben Howland.

Alford had agreed to a 10-year extension at New Mexico last week.

"I have been so fortunate and blessed in my life, and an opportunity to lead the one of the greatest programs in college basketball history is once in a lifetime," Alford said in a statement released by the school. "It is an honor to be the head coach at UCLA, yet it is also a responsibility to ensure that our former, current and future players and fans are proud to be Bruins. I am grateful to chancellor Gene Block and Dan Guerrero for this amazing opportunity and I can't wait to get started."

Alford had spent six seasons at New Mexico with tournament appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Kyle Anderson “does not have plans” to enter his name in the June NBA draft.

"At this time, (he) is returning to UCLA," Kyle Anderson Sr., his father, said via text message on Friday.

The 6-foot-9 Anderson struggled to play in the post this season after spending most of his life as a point guard.

Anderson appeared in 35 games for the Bruins and averaged 9.7 points on 41.6 percent shooting, along with 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Brad Stevens is the top target of UCLA’s coaching search, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Stevens declined comment in a text message to ESPN.

"I'm the coach at Butler," he wrote.

Stevens has been the top target for nearly every major opening over the past couple years.

Shaka Smart turned down an opportunity to coach UCLA and instead signed a contract extension with Virginia Commonwealth, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

Smart’s extension will run through 2023 and pay him approximately $1.5 million annually, a 25 percent increase from his previous salary.

Smart, 35, was pursued by Illinois last season and North Carolina State two years ago.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants to be considered for the UCLA Bruins’ coaching job.

Abdul-Jabbar played under John Wooden and led the Bruins to three straight NCAA titles beginning in 1967.

"Like all Bruin supporters," Abdul-Jabbar said, "the recent trend at our school hasn't made me happy. The players don't seem to be learning how to play, and haven't been graduating.

"We can do better."

Abdul-Jabbar said that he has "reached out" to UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, "and hopefully, I can get a chance to make my case."

While UCLA's top two candidates for their head coaching vacancy are believed to be Mark Stevens and Shaka Smart, sources say Mark Gottfried may end up being the eventual hire.

“Mark said he wants it and the boosters want Mark Gottfried,” the source told SNY.tv. “He’s got the support of the boosters.”

Smart is negotiating an extension at VCU, while Stevens is not interested in the exposure the job would bring.

“Shaka and Brad Stevens were their top choices,” the source said. “Neither of them wants it.”

Gottfried is currently the head coach at N.C. State and was an assistant at UCLA for eight years.

Gottfried has a $3.75 million buyout in his contract with N.C. State.

Shabazz Muhammad addressed a report which revealed he is actually 20 years old and not 19 as depicted in the UCLA media guide.

Muhammad's birth date had long been reported as Nov. 13, 1993.

"I tell everyone I am 20. I don't even know what the big deal is,” Muhammad said. “People try to get stories these days, and it's really ridiculous. Twenty years old in college, guys are 22, 23 24. Most of those guys out there are old. I always say I am 20."

When asked if he knew that his age was known publicly as 19, Muhammad said: "No, I didn't. I have my ID all the time. I show my driver's license, it says 1992. That's just ridiculous … It's '92. I always say I am 20. People know I am 20."

Ben Howland has been fired as head coach of UCLA.

UCLA was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Howland was hired as head coach in 2003 and led the Bruins to Final Four appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Shabazz Muhammad seams to have played his way down the draft board, with NBA executives and scouts categorizing the 6-foot-6 guard as a one-dimensional scorer.

"He doesn't really make anybody better," one executive said. "He is athletic. And he can score in a lot of ways. But I'm not sure what he does for everyone around him."

"I'd like to see if he can pass the ball," one scout said. "He's a scorer, not a shooter."

Muhammad averaged less than one assist per game during his freshman year at UCLA.

One general manager called Muhammad a "really talented kid," but also noted that "some nights he looks like the No. 15 pick."

Shabazz Muhammad was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 1993 according to the UCLA media guide, but a copy of his birth certificate indicates he was born exactly one year earlier in 1992.

Asked about the discrepancy, Holmes insisted his son was 19 and born in Nevada. "It must be a mistake," he said.

Several minutes later, he changed his account, saying that his son is, in fact, 20 and was born in Long Beach.

"Bazz is going to blow up in the NBA lets team up and blow this thing up!!!" Holmes wrote in a text message. "I'm going to need a publicist anyway why shouldn't it be you. We can do some big things together."