5-Star Guard Boogie Fland Asks For Release From NLI to Kentucky

Kentucky lost coach John Calipari to Arkansas last week, and now four class of 2024 recruits have decommitted, including Boogie Fland. The five-star guard had Indiana and Alabama in his final three when he first committed to Kentucky in October.

Stepinac's Boogie Fland puts up a shot against Nazareth during the CHSAA city championship. / Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA

The college basketball coaching carousel has contributed to significant roster changes throughout the country. That's especially true for Kentucky and Arkansas, as Eric Musselman took the USC job after five seasons at Arkansas, and John Calipari left the Kentucky to replace Musselman in Fayetteville.

Kentucky had six incoming freshmen committed under Calipari, but that number has dropped to two within the last week. Boogie Fland is the latest player to decommit from Kentucky, joining Jayden Quaintance, Karter Knox and Somto Cyril as class of 2024 recruits that have requested release from their National Letters of Intent to Kentucky. Travis Perry and Billy Richmond currently remain committed to Kentucky, which will be led by former BYU coach Mark Pope next season.

NEWS: 2024 Top-25 recruit Boogie Fland has requested a release from his NLI to Kentucky, source tells @On3Recruits.

The McDonald’s All-American is reopening his recruitment. https://t.co/4OnfHg9Cvc pic.twitter.com/E1E8s61pDP

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 15, 2024

It's likely that Calipari tries to bring those recruits with him from Kentucky to Arkansas, and he should have plenty of spots available. Following the 2023-24 season, Arkansas has already lost nine players to the transfer portal or NBA Draft.

"I met with the team," Calipari said during his introduction to Arkansas. "There is no team."

Fland's decision to decommit from Kentucky could give Indiana coach Mike Woodson one last chance to land the five-star guard. Last October, Fland had a top-three list that included Kentucky, Indiana and Alabama. He took an official visit to Indiana, and Woodson visited him in New York during the recruiting process.

"The Hoosiers were in the lead entering the final weeks, but Calipari and Kentucky finished strong to overtake Mike Woodson's program," ESPN's Jeff Borzello reported Monday.

Fland's reason behind committing to Kentucky stemmed from Calipari's success coaching guards, so it'd be no surprise to see him follow Calipari to Arkansas.

"I chose Kentucky because of the history of success with the guards that have come through there,"Fland told On3 in October. "Coach Cal is going to challenge me to be the best version of myself.  He didn’t promise me anything, playing time, shots, etc. He only promised me a chance to compete and fight! The first fight is with myself every day and I’m betting on me! BBN BABY, LET’S DO IT!"

Fland is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound combo guard in the class of 2024. He's considered a five-star recruit, ranked No. 18 in the nation, per the 247 Sports Composite. He was named MaxPreps New York High School Player of the Year, averaging 19.2 points per game for Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y.

Indiana still has five open scholarships heading into the 2024-25 season. The Hoosiers lost guards Xavier Johnson and CJ Gunn from last year's team, as well as front court players Kel'el Ware, Anthony Walker, Payton Sparks and Kaleb Banks.

Following the 2023-24 season, Woodson added five-star recruit Bryson Tucker, a 6-foot-7 wing ranked No. 20 in the class of 2024, per the 247 Sports Composite. And on Saturday, Indiana made its first addition via the transfer portal, landing guard Myles Rice from Washington State, who's ranked No. 2 among all combo guards in the transfer portal.

Indiana also hosted a visit for Bradley guard transfer Connor Hickman over the weekend, and Stanford guard transfer Kanaan Carlyle plans to visit next weekend, in addition to several transfers Indiana contacted this offseason.

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