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.

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.

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.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The wait is almost over for Arkansas football.

Those in the media have one last weekend to squeeze in a little personal time. Children of sports journalists quickly learn the only guaranteed days to schedule anything are Christmas Day and Fourth of July, but the second the first cleat touches a football field, it’s hard to even work in a phone call.

This year, the grind starts Tuesday, which is July 30 for those digging for a calendar. When I started in this business 50-plus years ago, we had until mid-August, but now it’s really never-ending.

Everyone will hear from Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on Tuesday. Strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowders will also offer the routine how much bigger, faster and stronger the Hogs will be.

Getting on the field will start Wednesday and a cycle of hearing from every assistant coach and Pittman will begin until the week before the first game against UAPB in Little Rock on Aug. 29. New Hogs’ offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will make the schedule twice (probably by popular request) on Aug. 13 and 20.

Practices the first week get under way at 5:05 p.m. with interviews following that. In other words, look for the information that night and the next morning since these things usually run a little later than the scheduled start time.

Everything goes to mornings for a couple of weeks after that, but it won’t be this crack of dawn stuff like spring practice and last season. The practices will be at 9:05 a.m. for a couple of weeks and then things settle into later times when school starts on Aug. 19.

Once classes begin, the rest of the practices until the season won’t be open to make sure the media doesn’t give the Golden Lions a chance to pick up anything for that opener. Throw Oklahoma State in there too since they will be the second week.

The media will have access to 14 practices during camp. The two scrimmages and practices leading up to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game will either be closed or have no media availability. The season opens at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Aug. 29 against UAPB at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

HOGS FEED:

• Olympics fill void, features SEC-like rivalry

• Hogs’ NIL collective hits minor milestone; Litigation may offer Arkansas lifeline

• Five-Star point guard makes college decision Friday

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