‘They don’t commit to universities as much as they do coaches’: National analyst believes former Indiana basketball target will follow John Calipari to Arkansas

The Indiana basketball program had one of the busiest summers last year with numerous top-end prospects on campus. Unfortunately, it was a summer that yielded no real results on the recruiting trail — and as of last month left Indiana without a single commit in its 2024 class.

While Indiana had secured a commitment from five-star wing Liam McNeeley, he re-opened his recruitment a few months ago. So, it was clear — last summer was a major disappointment.

Mike Woodson has made a living and been at his best securing commitments from top protests around the country in the spring and recently, the outlook for a key target that Indiana was after in the 2024 class became very murky.

Five-star McDonald’s All-American guard Boogie Fland was committed to Kentucky but after the news that John Calipari would be heading to Arkansas, questions about Fland’s commitment boiled up.

At the moment, the five-star guard is still a Kentucky commit — but there was some thought that potentially, he could open up his recruitment and see if Arkansas and John Calipari was the right move. If so, Indiana basketball would be a team that would surely be in the mix.

However, 247Sports National Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein says it is expected that Fland, along with most of the Kentucky class, will follow Calipari.

“The vast majority of these guys — this is what fans need to understand. These players don’t commit to universities, I don’t care what the athletic department says,” Finkelstein said on Wednesday.  “They don’t commit to universities as much as they do commit to coaches.  These guys committed to John Calipari.  They committed to his track record of making pros.  And if we’re to believe that now he has more resources at his disposal from an NIL standpoint, there’s not going to be much preventing them from following him to Arkansas.”

Despite Fland remaining committed to Kentucky, three other members of the 2024 class for Kentucky have opened up their recruitments. And like Finkelstein said, most players are more committed to a coach, than the university itself. And, that’s the case with Fland.

During his recruitment, he made it evident that the success John Calipari has had with guards was a major reason for his desire to play for the Wildcats. He noted numerous players like Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Malik Monk, Devin Booker and more as to why playing for John Calipari was best for him.

Fland will likely be the next star guard for Calipari, just this time do so in Fayetteville next year.

Indiana basketball still has six available scholarships for the 2024-25 season and just one incoming player with five-star wing Bryson Tucker.

SEE ALSO: Breaking down each upcoming transfer portal visit for Indiana basketball

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