After exiting the NBA draft, Boogie Fland has committed to the reigning NCAA champs, the Florida Gators.
Rumors of the mutual interest surfaced when Fland jumped into the portal at the last second to keep his options open during the NBA draft. The price tag that allegedly came with a move to Gainsville was astronomical but likely exaggerated. Still, it seems enough to keep him in college for a few more seasons.
Flands freshman season was marred by a thumb injury just over the midway point of the season. Ironically, the Bronx, N.Y., native injured himself during Arknasas' 71-63 loss to the Gators after he dove for a loose ball. He played through the next game against LSU and part of the game against Missouri before leaving for the remainder of the regular season.
Arkansas thought they had lost him for the rest of the season, but the Razorbacks made the NCAA tournament, and Fland returned for the first time since January to help the Hogs against the No. 7 seed Kansas. He helped lead the team to the program's fourth Sweet Sixteen run in five years.
Fland has massive shoes to fill, heading to Florida. The Gator's star player on their national championship run was point guard Walter Clayton Jr. Before declaring for the NBA draft, Clayton Jr. recorded 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Fland will have to bump up his shooting as Clayton Jr. made 44.8 percent of his shots from the field, including 38.6 from beyond the arc.
In his one season as a Razorback, Fland put together an impressive showing in the limited time he played. He put up 13.5 points a game, shooting at a 34 percent clip. He also recorded 3.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.5 steals.