Boogie Fland Withdraws from NBA Draft, Enters Transfer Portal—Alabama Should Make a Push
Former Arkansas guard Boogie Fland, once a projected second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, announced Tuesday that he’s withdrawing from the draft to explore options in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Fland’s freshman season in Fayetteville was inconsistent and hampered by injuries, but his raw talent remains undeniable. A consensus 5-star recruit from the Bronx, he showed flashes of the elite potential that made him one of the most coveted players in the 2023 class.
He averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists per game, though his scoring efficiency was a concern—shooting just 39% at the rim and 37.9% overall, according to Bart Torvik. Still, he showed promise from beyond the arc, hitting 34% of his threes.
Fland is expected to be a high-priority target in the portal, and Alabama head coach Nate Oats should be among the first in line. The Crimson Tide were a finalist during Fland’s original recruitment before he committed to John Calipari at Kentucky. When Calipari left Lexington for Arkansas, Fland followed him.
Now back on the market, Fland is poised to command a significant NIL deal as one of the premier point guards available. While Alabama may not match the biggest offers financially, Oats can offer something else: a proven system that showcases and develops guards.
With Labaron Philon likely staying in the NBA Draft, Alabama has a pressing need for a lead guard. Aden Holloway is an option, and combo guards like Jalil Bethea and Latrell Wrightsell bring depth, but none have Fland’s playmaking upside.
Holloway’s shooting numbers improved dramatically in Oats’ offense last season. That developmental success could appeal to Fland, who needs a platform to boost his draft stock for next year.
Alabama still has two open roster spots. One may go to Cal State Northridge transfer wing Keonte Jones, who’s already visited and appears to be trending toward the Tide. The other should be used on a high-level point guard—whether that’s Fland or a returning Philon.
Alabama didn’t win the highest-bidder battle for Cliff Omoruyi last year and still landed the Rutgers big man. With a track record like that, Oats and assistant Preston Murphy have reason to believe they can land Fland too—even without the biggest bag.
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