00:00Today, we're joined by one of New York City's own, a player I've been following for quite some time since his days at Archbishop Stepanak.
00:07He is from the Boogie Down Bronx.
00:09He is making a return to Madison Square Garden.
00:11Well, he'll be playing in the Jimmy V Classic presented by Modelo.
00:15That goes down on Tuesday, December 9th at Madison Square Garden.
00:18Second year in a row, he'll be playing there.
00:20The one and only Boogie Flan from the Boogie Down Bronx.
00:23Boogie, what's going on, man? How you doing?
00:25I'm doing well. How you doing?
00:26I'm doing good, man. Good to see you again.
00:29I'm glad you are doing well and everything is good.
00:32So, I wanted to talk to you about this because you were on this stage last year when you were with Arkansas.
00:37And now you're back in the city for the Jimmy V Classic.
00:40What does it mean to you to play in this event again back home in front of friends and family?
00:46It was the same thing last time. I was a bus fan.
00:48I only played in the Garden once and that was last year. That was my first time.
00:52I'm playing it again the second year in a row.
00:55I mean, it's going to be fun again.
00:56It should be fun for sure. Once again, always good for players from NYC to come back home.
01:02What about, you know, when you look at this Jimmy V Classic and, you know, what it stands for and bringing awareness to cancer research.
01:09What is it, you know, what does it mean to you, you know, the responsibility and the honor of playing an event tied to such an important cause?
01:16It's a big thing, for sure.
01:19When I was younger, growing up, I used to always do the cancer walk that they had in Central Park.
01:24So, it's big, you know, just playing it, you know, for a good cause.
01:30So, you know, yeah.
01:32Yeah, no, it's a great, great cause there.
01:33Now, you had a big moment in this game last year.
01:36You talked about how important it was to play in your win with Arkansas over Michigan.
01:40What do you remember the most from that night?
01:42Because, you know, like you said, it's time to come back home, play at the Garden.
01:45And what are you hoping to carry over from that experience into this year's matchup against UConn on Tuesday?
01:52Just how loud it was, the atmosphere, how much people I had there supporting me, and then the carryover to win.
02:00Were there any nerves for you, just to follow up on that, any nerves for you stepping on the Garden floor that first time playing?
02:06Any nerves?
02:06No, I mean, if there were nerves, there were probably good ones, you know, just like excited to be out there, you know.
02:14My first time playing in the Garden, just how many people was there.
02:18It was cool, though.
02:19Nah, it's cool.
02:19Always good when you step on the Garden floor.
02:21Now, you made the decision to transfer from Arkansas to Florida after your freshman season.
02:26What were the biggest factors that made Florida the right fit for you, you know, in your sophomore year?
02:30And what's your experience been like in Gainesville thus far?
02:33Gainesville has been amazing.
02:34And just the people that I've connected with, the atmosphere, definitely the weather.
02:42I just feel like it was the right step for me in my journey.
02:47And from the start, when I took the visit, I felt like a second home, and, you know, that's all it's been.
02:54Yeah, second home is good.
02:55You missed this New York weather.
02:56Do you want to know what the temperature is in New York right now?
02:59I don't know anything about it.
03:00It's like 19 degrees this morning.
03:04Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:05You're enjoying that good Florida weather there.
03:07So, you know, with that, Florida coming off of a national championship, you know, so like inside the locker room, you're in a group of players that have won a national championship.
03:17And, you know, what's the mindset for this group right now as they try to defend that title?
03:21It's more so of creating our own legacy.
03:25Last year was last year.
03:28Everybody knows what they did, but we're trying to write our own story, create our own journey.
03:33How hungry are you for that in terms of, you know, now not just being a part of it, but being able to say, hey, I was a national champion.
03:40Like, how would you feel about being able to accomplish that this year?
03:44I'm very, very hungry.
03:45And a lot of people could say they did that, you know, the standard is the standard.
03:52We're all being held to it, and we just got to go out and execute it.
03:55Yeah, got to execute that.
03:57Now, on Tuesday, in the Jimmy V Classic, you're going to be going up against UConn.
04:02Top five team.
04:02They're playing really well.
04:03One of the toughest matchups in the country.
04:06What do you think this Florida group, you and your guys, need to do to come out on top with a statement win at the Garden?
04:12No, definitely need some resiliency.
04:14Coming off a tough one-point loss at Duke.
04:17Tonight, I'll play another blue blood.
04:19We got to show some resiliency.
04:20We got to bounce back.
04:22Got to guard their focus, discipline.
04:24We know that's like a home game for them.
04:26You know, UConn only being like an hour and a half away from the Garden.
04:29So, we just got to be ready for the matchup.
04:32Got to come out and execute what the game plan is, and we got to do what we do.
04:35Yeah, I know you'll be ready before.
04:37I'm curious with this about you because you and I, you know, we talked a little bit about this when you were coming out from high school and making a decision.
04:45But you've also spoke before about NIL opportunities and, you know, how that's changed the landscape for college athletes.
04:50From your perspective now that you've, you know, been in college a year, now this is your second year as a sophomore, how has NIL shaped your path and your approach to building a long-term career, not just in college, but beyond that?
05:02I feel like it gives you insight on what the NBA is going to look like.
05:07Everybody's dream is to get there.
05:10You don't want to get there and just not know what to do with your money or, like, certain things that you need to be aware of, you know?
05:17So, I feel like college is, like, the step in the right direction to get to the NBA and understanding that aspect, that business side of, you know, of the floor.
05:27Because it's not just on the court, it's off the court, too.
05:30Right.
05:30You know, it's funny, Boogie, a lot of people, when they talk about that with NIL, I don't think they talk, that's why I was glad to hear you say it.
05:36I don't think they talk a lot about the business aspect.
05:39They're just like, oh, well, you know, athletes are getting paid, which they should have, have been for quite some time.
05:44But the way you've talked about it is just the learning aspect.
05:47And do you feel like you've learned a lot in these last couple of years, like high school to college and now, you know, going from one school to another?
05:53Do you feel like you've learned even more about the business and how to handle things for yourself?
05:57Well, for sure. I feel like there's always room to learn.
06:01You've got to be open to that, especially in this.
06:03Because we're all learning together, you know.
06:05Right.
06:05Stuff is changing every day.
06:07So we don't know what's what or, like, what's going to stick.
06:10So definitely got to be open to learn.
06:13Good. I think last thing for me here is just from a basketball perspective, like, where do you feel like your game has grown?
06:19I mean, when I when we first met, you was on my basketball show, I said to you, you know, I really liked your game.
06:25You had a great pace, good feel for the game.
06:28Where do you feel like you've grown from your stepping at days to your Arkansas days to now at Florida?
06:32And and what do you believe you can show people that you could do at the next level?
06:37I feel like my leadership, definitely my physicality, you know, just over the summer, just locking in on my body.
06:43I'm trying to get bigger and stronger.
06:46Different reasons, just being a leader on the floor, you know, being that second coach, understanding, you know, what's what's needed of me when I want to score, when I pass.
06:55Just things like that, you know, I like that leadership is improving everybody.
06:59That is Boogie Flann.
07:00He's going to be playing in the Jimmy V Classic presented by Modelo at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, December 9th.
07:06Boogie, I'm going to try to pull up to the garden, see if I can see you there.
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