Tag: kentucky basketball recruiting

Kentucky commit, 5-star Boogie Fland, has asked to be released from his NLI

Boogie Fland has asked Kentucky to let him out of his NLI.

Boogie Fland is no longer committed to Kentucky, part of the fall-out from John Calipari leaving the Wildcats last week. One of the top recruits in the nation, Fland is the latest Kentucky recruit to re-open his commitment the past week.

A class of 2024 recruit, Fland is a five-star in the 247Sports Composite where he is the No. 18 player in the nation. A McDonald’s All-American, Fland is coming off a strong season for Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, New York).

On Monday morning, Joe Tipton of On3 is reporting that Fland wants out of his NLI (National Letter of Intent).

Last week Jayden Quaintance asked out of his commitment from Kentucky. A five-star forward, Quaintance is the No. 14 player in the nation in the ESPN 300.

As for Fland, he has not confirmed the reports of his request on social media. But with Calipari’s departure last week to Arkansas, it is certainly understandable why Fland along with the likes of Quaintance are re-opening their college commitment.

 

Whoever lands Fland is going to get an impact player who is dynamic offensively.

At the McDonald’s All-American Game a week ago, Fland scored 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting. He was one of the most impressive players at the event.

Fland is a versatile scorer, with a strong outside game but the handle to drive and get to the rim.

Kansas State joins Texas to represent Big 12 in the Sweet 16

Jerome Tang scoffed at Kentucky’s “tradition,” after K-State joined Texas in the Sweet 16.

Kansas State followed Texas to the Sweet 16 on Sunday with a win over the Kentucky Wildcats, 75-69. K-State head coach Jerome Tang had interesting comments about Kentucky after the huge win.

Tang said the following about his team’s win over Kentucky.

Well you know, we have a program that’s rich in tradition also. You know, all those old dudes that played for Kentucky, they ain’t coming back. Tradition does not help you if you don’t go out there and play with some dudes. And we had more dudes than they did today.

Few college basketball fans, if any, consider Kansas State anywhere near a blue blood program. Even so, the point Tang makes resonates with fans of underachieving programs. You’re only as good as your current team and coach. Kentucky coach John Calipari might be the better recruiter, but it’s evident Tang is the better talent optimizer.

Texas and Kansas State still stand as potential Final Four representatives for the Big 12 Conference.

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Texas Basketball: The case for hiring Kentucky HC John Calipari

John Calipari has four top ten commits and the No. 1 recruiting class in college basketball.

The Texas Longhorns have been mentioned as a team that could poach Kentucky head coach John Calipari. The Wildcats’ coach has struggled in recent years but is worth considering for Texas.

For starters, recruits are buying into his resume and track record of producing NBA players. The veteran coach has produced players like Marcus Camby, Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, John Wall and many others.

Presently, Kentucky has the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation with four Top 10 recruits. That list includes the No. 1 and No. 2 overall players in the 2023 basketball recruiting class.

Given the experience Texas loses next season, Calipari would presumably hit the ground running on the recruiting trail to replace the Longhorns’ NBA departures. If the Longhorns were able to win over his 2023 class and retain No. 10 player Ron Holland and and No. 15 player AJ Johnson, their talent advantage overwhelm right away.

Here’s a look at who Calipari has committed to Kentucky.

SI: Kentucky plans to use Chris Livingston like Devin Booker, Kevin Knox

Kentucky recruit Chris Livingston will be used in an offensive role similar to how John Calipari used Devin Booker and Kevin Knox.

The Kentucky men’s basketball recruiting class became even more loaded on Wednesday when five-star wing Chris Livingston committed to the program. He becomes the third five-star player to join the class of 2022.

Livingston, the No. 6 player in the 247Sports composite, will walk in alongside No. 17 player Skyy Clark from Montverde Academy (Fla.) and No. 1 overall player Shaedon Sharpe from Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.).

With so much talent, what will the Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) star’s role be in the offense?

Livingston told Sports Illustrated’s Jason Jordan that John Calipari plans to use him in a role that is similar to former Kentucky stars Devin Booker, Kevin Knox and Keldon Johnson.

“Being that I’m a big guard and my stature and my skill set, that I’m a shooter, they showed me film of people like Kevin Knox, Devin Booker and Keldon Johnson,” Livingston said.

Knox was selected No. 9 overall, Booker was picked in the lottery despite a sixth man role at Kentucky, and Johnson was drafted at No. 29.

“The dribble-drive offense fits me well,” Livingston said. “They’re really trying to get me downhill during the games, get me in the lane a lot, shooting a lot of floaters, and still being off the screen, off the catch.”

Livingston absolutely dominated last season at Buchtel High School (Akron, Ohio), were he played before transferring to Oak Hill for the 2021-22 school year. He averaged 32 points, 16 rebounds and five assists per game, according to Jordan. In the adidas 3SSB circuit, he posted 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game, Jordan wrote.

He’ll be tested at national powerhouse Oak Hill before heading off to national powerhouse Kentucky. Once he gets there, he’ll try to play his role just as well as Knox, Booker and Johnson did — one which got them all into the NBA as first-round draft picks.