With head coach John Calipari leaving Kentucky for Arkansas, five-star combo guard and McDonald’s All-American Boogie Fland has asked to be released from his national pledge of commitment.
Travis Branham of 247Sports broke the story first.
Fland, a New York native, is ranked as the second-best combo guard in the nation, the third-best prospect from the state of New York, and the 18th top prospect in America in the class of 2024 according to 247sports’ composite rankings.
On November 8, he signed a national letter of intent with the Wildcats.
Speaking on the fan response to the Cats 2024 NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Oakland during the McDonald’s All-American Game Media Day in Houston on April 1, Fland looked prepared to handle the pressure that comes with playing at Kentucky.
“The fans of Kentucky want to win. They’re accustomed to it that way. “I think the response [to Kentucky’s Round of 64 loss to Oakland] was appropriate,” Fland remarked. “They failed to meet expectations. They seemed to be thinking of another game, in my opinion. March is when everyone will be giving it their best try. There feels to be pressure, in my opinion. We chose Kentucky, in my opinion, since we were aware of its requirements—you just have to go in there and do what needs to be done.
Rather, Fland, who averaged 19.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game for Archbishop Stepinac ri, scored 18 points, including the game-winning shot in the McDonald’s All-American game.
Fland, who averaged 19.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains, New York, and scored 18 points, including the game-winning shot in the McDonald’s All-American game, to win New York High School Player of the Year as a senior, will instead play somewhere else, most likely at Arkansas with Calipari.
He joins Jayden as the fourth member of the UK’s 2024 signing class to reopen recruitment in the wake of Calipari’s departure.