Kentucky's DJ Wagner, Boogie Fland continue mass exodus following John Calipari departure

15/04/2024 19:19

With John Calipari on his way to Fayetteville to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks, it’s the dawning of a new era of Kentucky basketball in Lexington. But for as much excitement as there seemed to be with the arrival of new head coach (and former Kentucky Wildcat) Mark Pope, there is so much work that needs to be done before the beginning of the 2024-25 season, and by the day, the burden on Mark Pope’s shoulders continues to grow.

After already losing multiple players to the transfer portal — Aaron Bradshaw, Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero, and Joey Hart — as well as a handful of incoming recruits who requested to be released from their National Letter of Intent, Kentucky was hit hard on Monday morning by announcements from DJ Wagner, and incoming star freshman Boogie Fland, both who have decided that they won’t be playing their college ball for Mark Pope in Lexington next year.

“BREAKING: Kentucky freshman DJ Wagner, a former five-star and McDonald’s All American, will enter the transfer portal,” according to a source of Travis Branham of 247 Sports. “Wagner will be completely open upon hitting the transfer market.”

“NEWS: 2024 Top-25 recruit Boogie Fland has requested a release from his NLI to Kentucky, source tells @On3Recruits,” writes Joe Tipton of On3 Sports on Twitter. “The McDonald's All-American is reopening his recruitment.”

Let’s start with DJ Wagner, the son of former NBA player Dajuan Wagner, who came to Kentucky as a five-star recruit ahead of the 2023-24 season. Wagner was one of many players in the Wildcats’ crowded backcourt who probably didn’t get the playing time or touches he hoped he would during the season. Wagner started 28 games for the Wildcats, scoring 9.9 points and dishing out 3.3 assists per night. But Wagner was overshadowed by fellow freshmen Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, each who came off the bench for Coach Cal and averaged more points per game than Wagner did.

Like Wagner and so many Calipari recruits before him, Boogie Fland is a five-star prospect and one of the best high school players in the country. Fland signed his NLI with Kentucky back in November, and projected to be a major contributor right out of the gate. Boogie has been lauded for his scoring ability and his tendency to heat up in a hurry from deep, but now the top twenty recruit will be taking his made-for-the-NBA skillset to another school.

Both Wagner and Fland are reportedly completely open in their recruitment, but it would be easy enough to read the tea leaves and figure out where each of them might land. Arkansas is a logical landing spot for both guards, with John Calipari in desperate need of capable bodies to fill out his Razorbacks roster. Wagner only received offers from six schools before signing his NLI with Kentucky, and the only other program he took a visit with before committing to Kentucky was Memphis, where his father Dajuan played for John Calipari. Louisville was also considered a top candidate.

Boogie Fland’s eventual choice may be a little more difficult to figure out. The 6’2″ combo guard received offers from 23 schools, and he took five visits in total: Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina and Michigan. UConn, Auburn, Kansas, St. John’s and Villanova are among the many other schools that have made Boogie an offer.

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