5-star Boogie Fland talks Kentucky; Says UConn, St. John's, etc. on him hard
Boogie Fland is the No. 8 ranked player in the 2023 On3 Consensus. The 6-foot-3 point guard led his PSA Cardinals 16u team in scoring, averaging 14.4-points per game at Nike’s Peach Jam.
“I’m a true point guard,” Fland told On3. “I’m a leader on the court, like to get everyone involved. I can shoot it too. I love watching Ja Morant; he can score and get his teammates involved at a high level. I’m like the coach’s right hand; I got to know all the plays and where everyone is supposed to be on the floor and their spots.”
His play at Peach Jam came on the heels of the 15-year-old Boogie Fland winning a gold medal with the u17 USA men’s basketball team.
“I came into training camp with a chip on my shoulder,” Fland said. “Last year, I got cut, so this year I felt I had something to prove. The experience was great; playing Spain in the championship was a test for the next level. Playing Spain, in Spain, the arena was so loud, you couldn’t hear anything, and you had to be really dialed into what our game plan was.”
Fland talks Kentucky offer
Kentucky: “The conversation with Kentucky was everything I wanted. It was with Coach Cal (John Calipari), and we talked about more than just basketball. We talked for about thirty minutes, took turns talking about ourselves and our families, and he offered me. They’re a winning program that puts 75-percent of their players in the league, and 55-percent of their players stay in the league. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Other standouts
St. John’s: “They are close to home. I know some of the guys who go there, Joel Soriano and Posh Alexander. They are all from where I’m from, so to get an offer from there, I’m just grateful.”
UConn: “Interacting with the coaches on that visit was great. Putting on the jersey was cool. It was all a lot to take in, very memorable because it was my first visit in general.”
Seton Hall: “Shaheen Holloway just got the job there. He came from St. Peter’s and their run in the Tournament. I’m still finding out more about their school.”
Rutgers: “Ron Harper, Jr. went there, and he’s elite. I watch his game a little bit; he’s a big guard and all.
Villanova: “They haven’t offered yet, but they’re talking to me. They fit into my play style. Everyone always tells me that Villanova is a good fit for me and how I play. They run good sets and get everyone involved.”
Boogie Fland’s take
“The photoshoots and everything are nice, but you got to ask the serious questions too,” Fland said. “I’ll be asking like, how am I going to fit into your program and what will my role be coming in as a freshman.
“I’ve got a long way to go in this process. My game will keep evolving; coaches will change, and rosters will be different over the next two years. I will study each school that offers me, and I will spend time getting to know all the coaches as this plays out.
“I want to play in a fast-paced, pick-and-roll style system and with a team that loves each other. I’m not too worried about location; I know mines will be with me wherever I go.”