FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It’s that time of year again. Coaches at Arkansas and across the country try to convince fans and the media that this is the greatest team they’ve ever seen. Everybody is pulling in the same direction and has made a hockey-stick growth level that rivals Silicon Valley tech startups.
Being my first year on the beat, I fell for it hook, line and sinker along with a portion of the fanbase before quickly being returned to a cruel reality. A 4-8 season where apathy kicked in as early as the fourth game of the season. Fans may still carry that apathy and resentment as the Razorbacks try and sell the same package to fans as they did last year. A team camaraderie so high it can overcome many of the challenges this year.
However, there may just be at least some iota of truth to some of it. A recent video of defensive coordinator Travis Williams talking to his team got former NFL receiver Randy Moss so excited that he wanted to come out of retirement.
Thinking bout coming outta retirement for this coach!!YEAH COACH https://t.co/OeW3nNg0WC
Golf fanatics look away, as offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino simplifies the game of golf beyond recognition, but fans may be getting some inside look as to why quarterback Taylen Green was hand-picked to lead the offensive coordinator and the chemistry between mentor and mentee.
Chemistry and camaraderie don’t count for any tangible wins. Oddsmakers and media members remain unmoved. BetSaracen has the over/under for Arkansas wins set at 4.5. Arkansas was picked to finish 14th in the SEC behind just Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. Perhaps, if nothing else the little viral moments will slowly chip away at the apathy after last season.
HOGS FEED:
• Razorbacks close summer with splash at Hog Wild Hangout
Advertisement
• Mateos adds in-state prospect to 2026 class
• Hogs make huge splash with another 2025 commitment
• Subscribe and follow us on YouTube • Follow allHOGS on Xand Facebook
Pictured here are six of the most expensive houses sold in Little Rock during the week of July 1-5.
“Sold” refers to the date on which the real estate deed was recorded by the Pulaski County circuit clerk, irrespective of the actual sale date.
$1.38 million. 67 Sologne Circle on Monday, April 18, 2022. Owned by Laxmi Thummalakunta and the Avyay Trust, a house behind this gate — at 208 Sologne Court — was sold to Jennifer and Jonathan Dotson. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen Swofford)
$1.075 million. 23 La Scala Court. Owned by ParFour LLC, a house behind this gate was sold to Rebecca and James Jones and the Buddy and Rebecca Jones Living Trust. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
$1,052,280. 14 Deauville Circle. Owned by Kelly and Jon Carnahan and the Carnahan Living Trust, a house behind this gate — at 18 Deauville Circle — was sold to Jennifer and Jordan Greer. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
$1.05 million. 16 Cascades Drive. Owned by Sandra and Michael Sheppard, this house was sold to Jessica and Matthew Selig. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
$959,999. 3804 Gordon Road. Owned by Dakota Properties Inc., this house was sold to Michelle and Frank Cuervo. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe)
Donna Turk Kuykendall, age 81, of Texarkana, Arkansas, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, July 26, 2024, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Kuykendall was born on December 28, 1942, in Village, Arkansas, and lived in the Texarkana area most of her life. She was a retired
Though he stands at just 6-foot-2, don’t let that fool you – Johnuel “Boogie” Fland will play a major role in the success of this year’s brand-new iteration of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
After John Calipari’s departure and the mass exodus of players and commitments from Kentucky, the Archbishop Stepinac (NY) star followed suit, asking out of his National Letter of Intent from Big Blue Nation to follow the iconic college basketball figure across the Southeastern Conference to Fayetteville.
Joining an absolutely loaded team featuring high-level transfers like Johnell Davis (shooting guard, Florida Atlantic), Jonas Aidoo (forward, Tennessee), and Adou Thiero (forward, Kentucky), Fland will still play a major role on this Arkansas team as a talented combo guard that can straight-up shoot the basketball.
One of the best in the class at shooting off of the bounce, Fland is a really dynamic offensive player who handles the ball well with both hands and can slot into either guard position. Ideally, he will play more of a lead-initiator role in the context of being a prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft, but the scoring upside is so great that it may not really matter.
Advertisement
At just 175 pounds, he is slight of frame in addition to the height issue, but plays with such an undeniable swagger and confidence, willing to let it fly from nearly any distance – contested or uncontested. Now, this does lead to problems with shot selection, as his shotmaking ability is so great that it can result in his taking (but often making) very difficult looks.
Equipped with an excellent handle and a wicked step-back jump shot, Fland has the game of a prototypical scoring guard at the college and the NBA level. His Synergy Sports statistics indicate that he is an elite scorer by efficiency as well, or at least was playing for Stepinac. He averaged 1.33 points per jump shot, putting him in the 92nd percentile in this category.
His points per shot above expectation was an astounding 0.38, meaning the shotmaking doesn’t just look good on tape – it translates to the advanced stats, too. What will be interesting to monitor will be his minutes, as this Arkansas team does have options at guard.
Other than Fland, the two other featured guards at this point are the aforementioned Nelly Davis, as well as Kentucky transfer DJ Wagner. It doesn’t really matter who starts, and matters much more who closes games; from watching tape, talking to sources, and looking at advanced stats, it seems clear that Fland will be one of the primary pieces on this roster.
He has shown he can create offense for others as well, despite his specialty being scoring. This will be the primary test for him at the collegiate level, as being an undersized scoring guard does not necessarily always translate to the NBA.
Advertisement
However, if he can continue to develop as a true all-around offensive piece, one that can score and set others up, Boogie Fland could end up being a very high draft pick in a class that has been repeatedly crowned as one of the best in recent memory.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
$1.075 million. 23 La Scala Court. Owned by ParFour LLC, a house behind this gate was sold to Rebecca and James Jones and the Buddy and Rebecca Jones Living Trust. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
$1,052,280. 14 Deauville Circle. Owned by Kelly and Jon Carnahan and the Carnahan Living Trust, a house behind this gate — at 18 Deauville Circle — was sold to Jennifer and Jordan Greer. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
$1.05 million. 16 Cascades Drive. Owned by Sandra and Michael Sheppard, this house was sold to Jessica and Matthew Selig. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
$959,999. 3804 Gordon Road. Owned by Dakota Properties Inc., this house was sold to Michelle and Frank Cuervo. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe)
