One of the biggest storylines this college basketball offseason has been how Florida would replace its backcourt depth from this past season. Not only did all three double-digit scoring guards (Will Richard, Alijah Martin, and Walter Clayton Jr.) run out of eligibility, but backup veteran guard Denzel Aberdeen opted to transfer to another SEC school in Kentucky.

After a slower start in the transfer portal compared to other teams, the Gators landed a couple of key guards. One was Princeton transfer and point guard Xaivian Lee, along with sharpshooter, AJ Brown, from Ohio. But the reigning national champions were still in the mix for at least one more guard. After parting ways with USC transfer Desmond Claude and his recruitment, Florida has found another starting guard to bolster the backcourt depth. 

Boogie Fland is a former 5-star prospect who had originally committed to the Kentucky Wildcats a year ago. He de-committed and followed Coach John Calipari over to the Arkansas Razorbacks, where he started 18 games as a true freshman guard.

Gland averaged 13.5 ppg and 5.1 apg and was one of the top passers in the SEC. That included 11 assists in a win over North Carolina A&T, along with 17 points and seven assists early in the season against Baylor. But Fland was dealing with a thumb injury and had missed most of the second half of the year, before coming back and scoring 12 points in the final three games of the year.

Even with the first-year inconsistencies, Fland still has one of the highest ceilings of most returning point guards in college basketball. After returning from the NBA Draft process, the 6’3 playmaker should be one of the best playmakers in the conference for the 2025-26 campaign. 

Look for Fland and Lee to start in the backcourt together for the Gators. And once Alex Condon makes it official that he’s back as well, Florida will enter next season as a team to beat for another national title.