Highly-rated shooting guard Boogie Fland, a 5-star prospect, has chosen to join John Calipari at Arkansas following his decommitment from Kentucky.
Arkansas’s newly appointed head coach, John Calipari, has secured another recruit from Kentucky. Fland, a 5-star combo guard who had initially committed to the Wildcats, opted to be released from his commitment following Calipari’s move to Arkansas. According to Collin Ginnan of On3, Fland has now committed to Arkansas.
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 170 pounds, Fland hails from Archbishop Stepinac and is ranked as the No. 19 prospect overall in the Class of 2024, as well as the No. 2 combo guard and the No. 3 player from New York, based on 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. Adam Finklestein of the scouting site described Fland as a skilled guard with a notable ability to shoot the basketball, also highlighting his evolving proficiency as a secondary ball-handler and initiator of offense.
Calipari’s prowess in recruiting is well-established, and he has successfully persuaded both Fland and Karter Knox, a 5-star small forward ranked as the No. 22 overall player in the Class of 2024, to follow him from Kentucky to Arkansas. Additionally, Zvonimir Ivisic, a 4-star center, is also transferring from Kentucky to Arkansas, citing Calipari’s influence as a significant factor in his decision.
Arkansas’s 2024 recruiting class currently ranks No. 24 overall, per 247Sports, signaling the impact of the “Calipari Effect.” However, it’s worth noting that despite Calipari’s past success in recruiting, Kentucky has faced challenges in translating talent into on-court success in recent years. Arkansas will be banking on a change of scenery benefiting both Calipari and the Razorbacks, with hopes of leveraging the incoming talent to achieve their goals of championship contention.
