John Calipari stops in for Boogie Fland during NYC Coaches Clinic

John Calipari knows his ABCs — always be ‘cruiting. Invited to speak at the New York Basketball Coaches Clinic, conveniently located at Archbishop Stepinac High School, the Kentucky head coach and assistants Orlando Antigua, Chin Coleman and Chuck Martin met with five-star guard Boogie Fland.

Fland, who is coming off an official visit to Kentucky this past weekend, is a standout for the Crusaders — the host of the event. Calipari joined the likes of Alabama’s Nate Oats, Indiana’s Mike Woodson, Iona’s Tobin Anderson and Yale’s James Jones to speak at the prestigious clinic. The Wildcats join the Crimson Tide and Hoosiers among finalists for the nation’s top-ranked senior point guard.

Sources tell KSR the staff fit in a one-on-one chat with Fland amid the chaos of coaches flooding in and out of the building for the event.

Final speaker of the day – NYC Basketball Coaches Clinic – John Calipari of Kentucky! #Stepinac #CHSAA #NYC #CoachesClinic pic.twitter.com/MRz84c1d7t

— Stepinac Basketball (@step_basketball) September 13, 2023

The five-star guard comes in at No. 15 overall and No. 1 at his position in the latest 2024 On3 Rankings. He took an official visit to Lexington from Sept. 8-10, his third official in 2023, joining Michigan (May 4) and Indiana (June 13). The Harlem native also has official visits scheduled to Alabama starting Sept. 22 and Maryland beginning Sept. 29.

Kentucky is trending for Boogie Fland

Where do things stand in his recruitment at this time? Kentucky should be considered the current leader.

“Boogie Fland, I was told his visit went absolutely great,” 247Sports insider Travis Branham told KSR on the Sources Say Podcast this week. “I do believe Kentucky is the leader in that recruitment, going head-to-head with Indiana. The entire staff is flying in tonight (Tuesday) hoping to flip that back. If they want him, I think they will probably get him.”

Fland’s finalists include Alabama, UConn, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina and St. John’s.

“(Kentucky is) a winning program under Coach Cal, you know? He came in and had an immediate impact on the entire university and on the fan base, everything,” Fland told KSR this summer. “They’ve got the No. 1 recruiting class coming in, so it’s good.”

What will the school he chooses be getting in the five-star guard?

“A leader, that’s the main thing,” he added. “Someone who is going to come in and make an impact. I’m not going to care about any points, not care about any stats. I just want to come in and do what’s necessary to win and be a successful program, do what I have to do.”

We’ll see if that program is Kentucky.