Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland commits to Florida

Once upon a time, Boogie Fland signed with Kentucky and was ready to begin his likely one-and-done season in Lexington — then all hell broke loose, the five-star guard deciding to follow John Calipari to Arkansas with the likes of DJ Wagner, Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivisic, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond.

He’d be a one-and-done in Fayetteville, but not as a college basketball player. Considered a late-first- to early-second-round pick, he pulled his name out of the 2025 NBA Draft and decided to explore his transfer options. When he first put his name in the portal back on April 22, it was seen as a break-in-case-of-emergency backup plan with his sights set on the draft. Coach Cal felt that way, too, releasing a statement on Fland to get out in front of any speculation he’d lose the former five-star to another program.

“Been talking with Boogie the last few days,” he said at the time. “I fully expect that he is going to be a first round draft pick. I’ve coached players with his talent and know how they are doing in the NBA, he has IT. He also knows I will always be here for him.”

Been talking with Boogie the last few days. I fully expect that he is going to be a first round draft pick. I’ve coached players with his talent and know how they are doing in the NBA, he has “IT”. He also knows I will always be here for him.

— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) April 22, 2025

Then he pulled his name out of the draft on May 13 — after DJ Wagner’s return to Arkansas to go with five-star additions Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas. A move back to Fayetteville wasn’t totally ruled out, but the general thought was that Fland would be seriously pursuing his other options. That led to quick speculation surrounding Todd Golden and the Florida Gators, looking for a guard to pair with Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee after Denzel Aberdeen — sixth man on the national title squad — made the surprising decision to enter the portal and sign with Kentucky.

Fland scheduled a visit to Gainesville this week, and today, he decided on UF as his next home, committing to the Gators.

He broke the news with ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday morning.

Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland has committed to the defending NCAA champion University of Florida and head coach Todd Golden, Fland told ESPN. Fland, the 6-foot-3, former McDonald’s All-American, finds a new home in Golden’s uptempo system. pic.twitter.com/k0pZv0bzCJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 20, 2025

Fland averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds in his lone season at Arkansas, playing just 21 games with 18 starts after missing two months in SEC play due to injury. Now, he’ll be making the intraconference move to Gainesville as a former Wildcat signee and Razorback freshman turned Gator sophomore.