Steve Alford to UCLA: Will any New Mexico players follow Alford

College basketball is a sport that whenever a head coach leaves a program it is typically followed by a wave of players transferring. New Mexico fans are hoping that the loss of Steve Alford to UCLA will not result in players leaving the program.

One player that is very likely to leave the program is Alford's son, Bryce Alford, who is a three-star recruit and none of the best high school players in the state of New Mexico, ever. The younger Alford was not recruited very heavily from other schools since his dad was the head coach at the Lobos, but now things have changed.

Steve Alford comments on taking UCLA job.

UCLA offer "came out of left field"

He had been committed to New Mexico since March of 2012, but had not signed his letter of intent with New Mexico. Now he is a solid verbal to UCLA and that should come to no surprise to anyone.

The other concern is about current players who may or may not transfer, and Alford was non-committal about if he would have any current players go with him to UCLA. However, one player to look at his sophomore center Alex Kirk who can graduate in August, meaning that he could transfer without having to sit out for the 2013-14 year. All that Kirk would say on the topic is that he is going to do "what's best for me."

Cameron Bairstow, who will be a senior, commented that he will not make a decision on staying or going until he knows who the next head coach will be. Bairstow did throw his support to newly minted interim coach Craig Neal to get the job permanently.

Then there is Tony Snell who has tossed his name into the hat to test the NBA Draft waters, and in my opinion the only way Snell comes back is if Neal is going to be the head coach.