Since leaving the Bronx to move to Fayetteville, Boogie Fland has quickly become a favorite of Arkansas basketball fans.

The freshman easily lives up to his reputation as the No. 1 point guard in the 2024 class. He was a leader for John Calipari’s team, helping the Razorbacks to a 23rd-ranked finish and a 10-2 start, one game before SEC play began.

In those 12 games as Arkansas’ primary ballplayer, Fland averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and just 2.0 turnovers in 33.3 minutes. He also shoots 43.3% from the field, 37.3% from distance and 84.8% from the free throw line.

In the last game against North Carolina A&T, Fland recorded 12 points and 11 assists, the highest of his career. It was the first points-assists double-double by an Arkansas freshman since Courtney Fortson in 2008 against Oklahoma.

Those are excellent numbers and have already caused fans to wonder how he compares to other great freshman guards in Fayetteville. So Best of Arkansas Sports thought we would try to answer that question.

Participants in our “study” include Fortson (2008-09), BJ Young (2011-12), Patrick Beverley (2006-07), Anthony Black (2022-23), Kareem Reid (1995-96), and Lee Mayberry ( 1988-89).

You may notice the exclusion of Razorback legends like Corey Beck, Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon. Although they all had great debut seasons at Arkansas, all three were actually transfers from the JUCO ranks. We’ll focus exclusively on true freshmen here, with the exception of Kareem Reid, who sat out the 1994-95 season due to academic issues, making him the only redshirt freshman. Although he certainly benefited from training with the eventual national runners-up Hogs.

(READ ON: How Boogie Fland fares against Calipari’s greatest Alpha Guards)

A statistical breakdown

Before we look at the stats, it is important to note the strength of each player’s opponents in the first 12 games. Lee Mayberry and Kareem Reid, for example, played more than five quality basketball programs in their first games, including Texas and Missouri for Mayberry and Michigan State and Auburn in Reid’s case. The tougher competitions than usual will almost certainly skew their stats compared to some others.

Boogie Fland faced less quality competition compared to those two, but had a stronger squad than players like BJ Young or Courtney Fortson, who only played 12 games against one quality opponent.

Here’s how these players rank in six statistical categories through their first 12 games as rookies:

PPG

1. Boogie Fland (15.3)
2. Courtney Fortson (15.2)
3. BJ Young (14.4)

APG

1. Kareem Reid (7.4)
2. Courtney Fortson (7.3)
3. Boogie Fland (6.2)

Role play

1. Courtney Fortson (5.4)
2. Anthony Black (4.9)
3. Patrick Beverley (4.6)

FG%

1. Patrick Beverley (54%)
2. Anthony Black (52%)
3. Lee Mayberry (52%)

3PT%

1. BJ Young (45%)
2. Patrick Beverley (43%)
3. Courtney Fortson (40%)

Lowest sales

1. BJ Young (23)
2. Boogie Fland (24)
3. Patrick Beverley (25)

Boogie Fland ranks fourth in rebounds per game with 3.6, sixth in FG% (43%) and fifth in 3Pt% (37%).

What can we learn from this?

Based on the numbers, it’s clear that the two leading candidates for best rookie through 12 games are Courtney Fortson and Boogie Fland. Fortson finished in the top three in PPG, APG, RPG and 3PT%, while Fland did the same in PPG, APG and TO.

Below are their points, rebounds, assists and turnover numbers side by side for comparison:

• Fland: 15.3 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.6 RPG, 24 turnovers
• Fortson: 15.2 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.4 RPG, 48 turnovers

That last number is what really sets the two apart, though, because while Boogie Fland showed a veteran ability to dish out many mistakes, Fortson did the opposite. The Pelphrey-era gem recorded 48 turnovers in 12 games, doubling Fland’s total and giving him by far the most turnovers among the seven players.

Turnover is a particularly damaging statistic. Not only do they often precede a four- or six-point exchange, but they also often decide the outcome of a closely contested game. They can be even more destructive to the ego of a young player playing high-level college basketball, especially after receiving so much praise in high school. Luckily for Boogie Fland, he didn’t have to worry too much about hurting his team with his own faux pas.

It’s also worth reminding you that of the players mentioned above, Fortson played by far the easiest schedule, which allowed him to do a bit of stat padding. Although Fortson deserves high praise for being as electrifying as he was, Boogie Fland appears to have beaten the Montgomery, Alabama native, which may have earned him the title of having the hottest start of any Arkansas guard ever.

Another interesting trend over 12 games is that Razorback legend Lee Mayberry is near the bottom in five of the seven statistical categories. He and Kareem Reid both rank near the bottom of many of these stats, although Mayberry finished his career with nearly 2,000 and Reid with nearly 1,500 points, both accrued over four seasons of play, a rarity in today’s landscape.

Fland will almost certainly spend just one year in Fayetteville before heading into the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the top guards available. Even though the sample size for Reid and Mayberry will be much larger, if Fland continues on this path, he could still be considered the best point guard to ever wear an Arkansas jersey in terms of single-season production.

What Arkansas size is Fland most similar to?

Fland’s play was highly praised in the preseason, with the Sports Illustrated staff releasing a scouting report in August and saying of Calipari’s new toy: “Johnuel “Boogie” Fland is known for being a highlight-reel scorer, and that is much more than that. He also has qualities that allow him to take the lead when necessary and support others. He definitely has a skinny frame and is smaller than many modern guards, but the Arkansas freshman makes up for it in other ways.”

Fland’s small stature is particularly similar to the most successful of the Arkansas guards we discussed, Patrick Beverley. Both are 6 feet tall and weighed about 180 pounds in Arkansas, although Beverley’s frame was slightly larger.

In terms of playing style, Boogie is a little more controlled, but still resembles Courtney Fortson or Kareem Reid, Fland’s compatriot from the Bronx, NY. However, his stature is too small to be compared to the likes of Anthony Black; Lee Mayberry was very similar in stature, but more explosive than Fland:

Another similar competitor is BJ Young, who also had an almost identical physique to Fland. Young’s pace of play and size, coupled with Courtney Fortson’s passing and style of play, would create a Fland-like prototype, although Fland probably has them beat in terms of shots on goal, despite Fortson’s misleading start to his career of three.

While the first 12 games of a player’s career ultimately don’t amount to much, for Boogie Fland they represent a third of his college career has already passed. Guys like this don’t come along often, so try to enjoy him like you did the other Razorback greats.

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