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Draft prospect Boogie Fland: “When the game is on the line, I want the ball in my hands – that’s where I thrive.”

Draft prospect Boogie Fland: “When the game is on the line, I want the ball in my hands – that’s where I thrive.”

Boogie Flanda projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 20 in our latest Aggregate Mock Draft), is quickly making a name for himself as a rookie John Calipari in his first year as Arkansas coach after leaving Kentucky.

Standing about 6 feet tall and weighing just under 180 pounds, Fland will draw comparisons to a former Calipari guard Rob Dillinghamthe 8th pick in last year’s draft, or a little-known guard with a name drafted out of Vanderbilt Darius Garland.

Known for his shooting touch, poise, playmaking and ability to thrive both on and off the ball, Fland is already showing his potential as a future NBA guard.

After a convincing performance against Miami, Fland spoke with HoopsHype and reflected on the start of his true freshman season, his ability to close out games, his style of play, playing in high-intensity situations early in the year and more.

Boogie Fland: I mean, they showed that it was a short-term hedge. So just swing the ball, swing it from side to side, then get it back and then play it down the stretch. I mean, that’s all I can do, just try to get the W for my team.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Friend: I mean, it shows us what we can do, what we can be. We fell out of the top 25, we’re just trying to get back into the top 25 and continue to compete with the team.

Friend: Spirit, intensity, just go for it. When we go up, feel this love for each other and just try to find our way. We are still at the beginning of the season and are trying to get better every day, game by game.

Friend: Just keep going, I mean basketball is a running game. They’re going to make runs, or they certainly did in the first half. Just come back in the second half with more intensity and more drive and keep going throughout the game.

Friend: I mean, just like you said, when I played in New York, my hometown, I just came out with a W there. I’m not changing anything, not much. Just stick with the game and play to fall in love with what we do.

Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Friend: I mean, this is basketball. Basketball is a team sport. You can’t do this alone, it’s okay with the people on site. We’ll just stay with them. Stay in the team.

Friend: I mean, it’s just a way of thinking. I’ve done this my whole life. I have to work with that, I don’t prepare for it. I have to do the same for the team. It’s the only thing we do.

Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Friend: I mean, it’s just a side effect of sticking with it and persevering. Stuff like that. There are little responses you need to do to keep the shot from being perfect. I just feel like I have to stick with it.

Friend: In any case, it’s a long season. We’re trying to find our groove. This is game number eight. It’s still a long season. Like you said, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface. Stay confident out there. What else can you do if the shot doesn’t fire? But just keep shooting.

Friend: Of course, those are the teams that I think get into those situations and go far in March Madness, and I feel like that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.

Friend: I mean, just keep going. Every game is a tough game. You have to approach it with the same intensity and spirit. You have to get up for every game. You have a bad game, you have to move on. You just have to keep going. It’s a long season. Keep working.

Friend: Definitely didn’t come down. I feel like Illinois was like an awakening moment for us. I feel like we were careless from the start. They came out fine. They wanted it more than we did. They were just hungrier and that woke us up.

Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Friend: I feel like there is room for improvement everywhere. I’m in college now, so I just read the right texts, include everyone else, and be a leader. I feel like I can expand my leadership role even more, especially as a freshman and as a point guard for a big, big team.


Basketball, Draft, Interview, NBA, NCAA, 2025 NBA Draft, Arkansas, Arkansas Razorbacks, Basketball, Boogie Fland, CBB, Darius Garland, DJ Wagner, Draft, Draft Prospect, John Calipari, NBA, NBA Draft, NCAA, Rob Dillingham

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