By Sean Savage
@SeanSav13
From the depths of the Bronx, many hoopers have emerged from the shadows: Kemba Walker, Nate Archibald and Jonathan Isaac, to name a few.
And another one seems to be on his way.
His name is Boogie Fland.
The 6-foot-2 five-star combo guard, who is committed to Kentucky, has a smooth, quick release that helped him become the weapon he is.
While at Archbishop Stepinac High School, Fland has developed into a leader on and off the court.
“The biggest strides that he has made as a young man is his leadership qualities,” Archbishop Stepinac head coach Patrick Massaroni said. “His ability to show by example makes our job a lot easier.”
Fland’s growth propelled him to the No. 18 ranking in ESPN’s Class of 2024 Top 100.
He was ferocious at the Hoophall Classic.
The Senior took over in his matchup against Don Bosco Prep and the No. 2 ranked prospect in the class of 2024, Dylan Harper. From the opening tip, Fland wreaked havoc, especially on the offensive end.
Fland attacked the Ironmen defense with flashy eurosteps, while also getting his teammates involved.
“His game speaks for himself,” Massaroni said. “His ability to score, dribble and pull up really stands out.”
Early in the game, it was evident that his confidence was at an all-time high. After stealing the ball from Harper, Fland trailed on the breakaway before catching the ball and drilling a three.
Before halftime ensued, Don Bosco tried to make some adjustments to contain him. Because of this, Fland connected with his teammates on multiple occasions – including a nice pass to forward Braylan Ritvo in the corner for a triple.
The story was much the same for the final 16 minutes of play. Fland left the crowd in awe with a tough jelly layup over seven-footer Keiner Asprilla.
Fland followed suit with a spectacular stepback 3-pointer in the right corner, this time over Brady Loughlin – once again leaving the crowd speechless.
Fland finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists, helping the Crusaders walk away with a 74-67 win.
“He showed tonight that he has the chance to be one of the best players in the country,” Massaroni said.
However, even with his mastery on the court, the hype around Fland is nothing new.
Fland had more than 30 scholarship offers to consider before he even enrolled at Stepinac.
Teams have been scouting him since middle school.
“He has been in the profile and spotlight of the country for a long time,” Massaroni said. “He has done a great job of maintaining his stardom. His work ethic that shows on the court is what makes him who he is.”
The drive Fland has for basketball granted him a spot on the 2022 USA Basketball U17 National Team, where he helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in Spain.
It was almost like a scene out of a movie; the championship win came on his birthday.
“When we won that championship it was unlike anything else,” Fland said. “I could not hear anything, and it was in a brand new arena.”
For the past three years, Fland has been involved with Team USA hoops, where he has gotten to learn from some of the best at the sport.
“It is such a different culture over there. It gave me a different perspective: It made me find a different way to score,” Fland said.
Next year with the Wildcats, Fland will have the opportunity to put everything he has learned together on a bigger stage.
“I am so excited for the experience, and everything that goes with it,” Fland said. “I am ready to get better and learn from different coaches.”
The future for Fland is big; he will be playing for the same team and coach that NBA all-stars like Anthony Davis, Devin Booker and Jamal Murray had in the past.
For Fland, he is still trying to wrap his head around how surreal his experience is:
“I can’t wait,” Fland said. “It is going to be the best.”
For Massaroni, he understands that Fland has the elements to succeed at the next level and beyond:
“He is a winner,” Massaroni said. “In the end, he is a winner. And that goes a long way.”
Photo Courtesy of Braedan Shea/The Student