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Boogie Fland commits to Florida basketball: How the former Arkansas guard fits at UF

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Boogie Fland commits to Florida basketball: How the former Arkansas guard fits at UF


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  • Fland averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists as a freshman at Arkansas despite missing time with a thumb injury.
  • Florida’s coaching staff believes Fland can play alongside incoming transfer point guard Xavian Lee.
  • A substantial NIL deal reportedly influenced Fland’s decision to join the Gators.

Florida basketball landed another impact piece to its backcourt, as former five-star recruit Boogie Fland committed to the Florida Gators on May 20.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Fland withdrew his name from the NBA Draft last week and visited UF’s campus on May 19-20. He entered the transfer portal after averaging 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in his freshman season at Arkansas.

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Fland shot 37.9% from the field and 34% from 3-point range in his freshman year at Arkansas, but missed significant time during the SEC schedule last season with a thumb injury.

A combo guard out of Archbishop Stepinac High in White Plains, N.Y., Fland was the 22nd-rated overall player and third-rated point guard in the Class of 2024 before signing to play for John Calipari and the Razorbacks. Now Fland will play under Florida coach Todd Golden, who guided UF to a 36-4 record in 2024-25 and its third national title in school history in April.

“Boogie is a winner,” said Pat Massaroni, Fland’s former high school at Archbishop Stepinac. “Boogie won a lot here. Boogie’s won a lot in his basketball career. At 6-2, 6-3, he’s a dynamic guard who can really score the ball. He can be a pass-first point guard. He rebounds really well for his size. And obviously he has to continue to shoot the ball at a higher clip, in Todd’s system, which is going to be important. I think the biggest thing is continue to transform his game in that system, will be key.”

How Boogie Fland fits with Florida basketball

Fland completes a Florida backcourt makeover, as UF has signed Princeton transfer point guard Xaivian Lee and Ohio shooting guard A.J. Brown to help replace the production lost from losing All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard to eligibility and combo guard Denzel Aberdeen to the transfer portal (Kentucky).

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Massaroni admitted he had some questions about how Fland would fit playing with Lee at the same time.

“Todd and his staff feel they can play together both on an off the ball,” Massaroni said. “Both are scoring guards, both are dynamic in that regard and be interchangeable and obviously they’ve returned some pieces here and have one more in (Alex) Condon that can really make them explosive across the board, especially with the size and length.”

Fland’s thumb injury, Massaroni said, impacted his shooting at the start of SEC play, but credited him for coming back in March after a 10-week absence to help the Razorbacks make a run to the Sweet 16. Massaroni said Fland is back to 100% after the thumb injury.

“I got to see him to his predraft workouts in mid-May and April,” Massaroni said. “He looked like a different player. His body looked great. His conditioning looked great. And look, he had some late-first-round opportunities that I think were on the table, but I think he wants to prove that he can be a Top 15 pick. Todd and his staff and those guys feel the same way.”

A hefty Name, Image and Likeness deal, which CBSSports.com’s Matt Norlander is reporting was north of $2 million, played into Fland’s decision to commit to the Gators. But so did UF’s facilities and the chance for Fland to improve his draft stock on a winning team.

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“Florida’s resources, their facilities, you know Boogie’s gotta transform his body and he’s gotta be more efficient at the rim,” Massaroni said. “I think both of those things, in Todd’s system, could allow for that.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com



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Arkansas

Where to watch Houston vs. Arkansas today: College basketball free stream

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Where to watch Houston vs. Arkansas today: College basketball free stream


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The No. 8 Houston Cougars face the No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. Both teams have won their past four games, including ranked wins for the Razorbacks over Louisville and Texas Tech.

Houston vs. Arkansas will air on CBS, and streams live on DIRECTV (free trial).

What: Men’s college. basketball regular season

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Who: No. 8 Houston Cougars vs. No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks

When: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Time: 5:30 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

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Live stream: DIRECTV (free trial), fuboTV (free trial)

Here’s a recent college basketball story via the Associated Press:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Trevon Brazile scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field to lead No. 14 Arkansas to a 108-80 victory over Queens on Tuesday night.

Arkansas (9-2) was never in trouble, taking a 24-point lead into halftime behind 60% shooting from the floor. Brazile had 18 points in the opening 20 minutes. Darius Acuff Jr., who finished with 23 points and 10 assists, scored 16 in the first half.

Brazile went 5 for 7 from 3-point range and Arkansas was 14 of 28 compared to 6 for 25 for the Royals (5-7). The Razorbacks also outscored Queens 32-14 on fast-break points.

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Atlantic Sun preseason player of the year Chris Ashby entered averaging 13 points per game but was limited to just two on 1-of-9 shooting, including 0 for 7 from 3-point distance. The Royals were led by Nasir Mann, who had 16 points.

Four other Arkansas players joined Brazile and Acuff in double figures. Billy Richmond III scored 15 points off the bench, Nick Pringle added 14, Karter Knox had 11 and D.J. Wagner provided 10.

The win was Arkansas’ fourth in a row since losing to then-No. 4 Duke on Thanksgiving.

Up next

Queens faces another Southeastern Conference opponent Monday when it visits Auburn.

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Arkansas plays No. 8 Houston on Saturday in New Jersey.

Can I bet on the game?

Yes, you can bet on the game from your phone in New York State, and we’ve compiled some of the best introductory offers to help navigate your first bets from BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365 and more.



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23 state senators back University of Arkansas’ inquiry | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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23 state senators back University of Arkansas’ inquiry | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


Ryan Anderson

randerson@nwaonline.com

Ryan Anderson covers higher education across the state. He joined the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in August 2022 after covering education — and other topics — for a decade at four newspapers in three states. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ryan attended DePaul University in Chicago and now resides in Fayetteville.

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Arkansas runaway youth numbers rising, what does that mean? | Make It Make Sense

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Arkansas runaway youth numbers rising, what does that mean? | Make It Make Sense


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – This week, host Alex Kienlen sat down with reporter and KARK News Anchor Mattison Gafner to discuss her report on the surge of runaway youth in Arkansas.

Topics included not just the numbers but also causes, consequences, and what can be done.

If you, or someone you know, is dealing with running away, or considering it, help is available through the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

Make It Make Sense is a KARKFOX16+ exclusive show that airs weekly at 7 p.m.  Monday on the free app. For more information on how to get the free app, head to KARK.com/Streaming.

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Questions? Considerations? Reach out at MakeItMakeSense@Nexstar.TV.



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