College basketball had one of the biggest coaches moves it has seen in recent years with John Calipari now expected to leave Kentucky and stay in the SEC by way of Arkansas. How does this impact the Indiana basketball program?
Two key players who were either recruits or on the Kentucky roster now have options and have ties to Indiana. Those are freshman forward Aaron Bradshaw and five-star point guard and current Kentucky signee Boogie Fland.
Both names should not be new.
Indiana basketball was heavily involved with Boogie Fland throughout his recruiting process — one that had him pick Kentucky over Indiana. While the commitment to Kentucky could be seen as more of a commitment to John Calipari, there is certainly a path in which Fland opens up his recruitment to see what the best option is. The main pitch Calipari had was a very good one; ‘look at all of the pro guards I’ve produced’.
Whether it’s Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Malik Monk, Devin Booker or more — it’s clear that Calipari pumps out guards more than any other program.
But, let’s revisit why Indiana could be a potential option. For starters, it needs a playmaking lead guard who can come in and produce right away — and play significant minutes. It needs a big time guard who can create off of the dribble. If surrounded by the right talent, Boogie Fland could excel at Indiana with the ball in his hands, given the Jalen Hood-Schifino treatment. Indiana has talent, albeit still numerous open spots on the roster. But, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau, Trey Galloway and Bryson Tucker certainly would be put in a good position with a dynamic scorer and playmaker like Fland.
“I mean it kind of gives the overview and puts things into perspective,” Boogie Fland told HoosierIllustrated.com during his recruiting process. “As a freshman (Jalen Hood) Schifino was able to come in play a bunch of minutes and impact the winning Indiana did last season. To see that at the guard postion is big (for me).”
The best offense for Indiana basketball in Mike Woodson’s tenure has been pick and roll and pick and pop action. Whether it was Hood-Schifino last year or Xavier Johnson throughout his tenure, especially during the last month of the 2021 season, it was very difficult to defend.
That type of offense was made clear to the Fland family during Indiana’s recruitment of him.
“IU style of play fits Boogie’s game perfectly,” Fland’s father told HoosierIllustrated during his initial recruitment. “They play an NBA style of play and run a lot of pick-n-roll and pick-n-pop. Double screens etc they run the ball no matter the position which is also great because Boogie can just run and doesn’t always have to have the ball in his hands after a rebound.”
While the offense has been shaky at times as well, it’s clear that when Indiana has a healthy and talented attacking guard, the offense can flourish.
Time will tell on Fland — but it’s certainly a name to watch moving forward.
Now for Bradshaw. The 7-foot-1 center entered the transfer portal on Monday. His specific tie to Indiana? He was AAU teammates with current IU wing Mackenzie Mgbako.
The uber-talented big man had a difficult and inconsistent first season with Kentucky. Where have we heard that before?
It’s a similar story that Indiana had with Kel’el Ware this past season. A projected lottery pick coming into college, Ware had his struggles at Oregon. One year at Indiana, however, and he was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection and is now a projected first round draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft this summer.
Bradshaw was the No. 4 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class and was a projected mid to late first round selection in November.
His collegiate season didn’t get off to the start he wanted, however. Bradshaw missed the first seven games of the season with a foot injury before returning on Dec. 9.
In 26 games, he averaged 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks a game. He played just 13.7 minutes a game. His per-40 minute average was: 14.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
Much like Ware, Bradshaw fell out of the rotation midway through the season, receiving double-digit minutes in just one of the final nine games he appeared in.
“Production didn’t always live up to his potential though, with his motor and physicality both being clear works-in-progress during his high school years. It was more of the same this year at Kentucky, especially after his transition to the college game was impeded by an injury that cost him the first few weeks of the season,” 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote. “While he made an immediate impact upon returning in early December, he saw his role diminish as the season went on. He finished the season averaging just 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 13.8 minutes per night.
“While there is unfortunately now a pattern of underachieving, what is debatable is how much of that is contextual, after playing on teams built around DJ Wagner throughout high school. What remains undeniable is that Bradshaw’s ceiling remains high if he ever fully commits himself to maximizing his potential. There just aren’t many seven-footers who can space the floor vertically and with their shooting while simultaneously being able to protect the rim and move their feet laterally.”
Bradshaw is the type of center that would pair well in Indiana’s front court. An athletic, rim-protecting big who you likely don’t need to run a ton of offensive sets through.
His decision to enter the transfer portal and current situation is unlike Boogie Fland. While it’s much more likely Fland follows Calipari to Arkansas, that’s not the case for Bradshaw at the moment.
Bradshaw will have a lot of options due to his talent and upside. He’ll also have a lot of NIL options at his disposal.
Overall, it’s a very similar story as Ware’s was. Indiana helped develop Trayce Jackson-Davis into what he is now. It also was a clear impact on Ware’s development.
What will appeal to Bradshaw more? That’s an important question but if it is related to on the court development and growth, Indiana basketball should be a clear option.
Indiana has six available scholarships for the upcoming season and needs talent — and fit — at numerous positions. But, point guard and center are two major openings in the current roster and both Fland and Bradshaw would provide skill and fit that the Hoosiers need.
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