Boogie Fland, a projected first-round choose within the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 20 on our newest Aggregate Mock Draft), is rapidly making a reputation for himself as a freshman underneath John Calipari in his first 12 months teaching Arkansas after leaving Kentucky.
Standing at about 6-foot-2 and weighing slightly below 180 kilos, Fland will draw comparisons to a former Calipari-coached guard Rob Dillingham, the eighth total choose in final 12 months’s draft, or a little-known guard drafted out of Vanderbilt named Darius Garland.
Identified for his capturing contact, poise, playmaking and his capability to thrive each on-ball and off-ball, Fland is already showcasing his potential as a future NBA guard.
Following a clutch efficiency in opposition to Miami, Fland spoke with HoopsHype and mirrored on the beginning of his true freshman season, his capability to shut video games, his playstyle, taking part in in high-intensity conditions early within the 12 months and extra.
Boogie Fland: I imply, they had been displaying, it was scorching hedging. So simply swinging the ball, swinging it from one facet to the opposite, after which getting it again after which play it down the stretch. I imply, that’s all I can do, simply attempt to get the W for my crew.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Pictures
BF: I imply, it reveals us what we are able to do, what we might be. We dropped out of the Prime 25, we’re simply attempting to get again into it and maintain attempting to circulation with the crew.
BF: Spirit, depth, simply selecting it up. Once we go up, having that love for one another, and simply looking for our approach. It’s nonetheless early within the season, attempting to get higher each day, recreation by recreation.
BF: Simply maintain going, I imply, basketball’s a recreation of runs. They’re gonna make runs, or undoubtedly did make runs within the first half. Simply come again second half with extra depth, extra spirit, and simply maintain going all through the sport.
BF: I imply, similar to you stated, taking part in again in New York, my hometown, simply popping out with a W there. I’m not altering something, not going to a lot. Simply stick with the sport, taking part in to fall in love with what we do.
Sam Hodde/Getty Pictures
BF: I imply, that’s basketball. Basketball’s a crew sport. Can’t do it by your self, it’s wonderful with the individuals on the ground. Simply staying with them is what we do. Staying with the crew.
BF: I imply, it’s only a mindset. I’ve been doing this my entire life. That is what I’ve to work with, I’m not getting ready for this. I’ve to for the crew additionally. It’s the one factor we do.
Nelson Chenault-Imagn Pictures
BF: I imply, it’s simply facet execution, sticking with it, holding my comply with via. Stuff like that. There’s little solutions that you just gotta do to maintain the shot from perfection. I simply really feel like I gotta keep it up.
BF: Most undoubtedly, it’s an extended season. We’re looking for our groove. That is recreation quantity eight. It’s nonetheless an extended season to go. I really feel like, such as you stated, simply scratching the floor. Staying assured on the market. When the shot’s not falling, what else are you able to do? However simply maintain capturing.
BF: In fact, these groups I really feel like that get put into these conditions, make it far in March Insanity, and I really feel like that’s what we wanna do.
BF: I imply, simply maintain going. Each recreation is a tough recreation. You gotta come to it with the identical depth, identical spirit. You gotta stand up for each recreation. You could have a nasty recreation, you gotta maintain going. You simply gotta maintain going. It’s an extended season. Hold working.
BF: Undoubtedly didn’t get down. I really feel like Illinois was like a wake-up second for us. I really feel like we had been lackadaisical via the beginning. They got here out wonderful. They got here out wanting it greater than us. They had been simply hungrier, and that woke us up.
Nelson Chenault-Imagn Pictures
BF: I really feel like there’s room for enchancment in all places. I’m in faculty now, so simply making the fitting reads, getting all people else concerned, being a frontrunner. I really feel like I bought to step up extra as a frontrunner position, particularly being a freshman and having a degree guard position for an enormous, massive crew.
