3/2/2018

Today my dad and I are flying to Houston, Texas because my Gauchos team will be playing in the John Lucas Tournament this weekend. It’s our first time playing in it, so we are definitely excited…one, he’s a legend and two, all the top teams in the country will be there.

Our flight was at 9:40am and we were supposed to get to Houston by 1:30, but there was a slight delay so we got to Houston at 2:30 instead. There weren’t any games scheduled for Friday, so my dad and I just checked in to our hotel room and went to get something to eat at Chik-Fil-A which was across the street from our hotel. 💪🏾😋

My dad signed me up for a clinic that was going on at 7pm til 8:15pm. We went over there later on in the evening and I got a chance to do some great drills and have fun with so many kids from all over the country. This basketball world is so big that you get a chance to make so many friends from all over and just bond and communicate through social media. I’ve met so many cool kids who are good in basketball, but have even better hearts. After the clinic we went back to the room to rest and relax because Saturday is when the tournament begins.


 

3/3/2018

Today is Saturday, my dad and I are heading to meet the rest of the team at the gym so we can prepare for Game 1.

Our first game was at 11:30am if I’m not mistaken and we won by 21 points and I scored 12 points. The game started off competitive, but after the first half we got in our zone and started playing great defense and ended up beating them by a lot.
 

Second game was at 3:30pm. I played well and scored 15 points. We ended up winning by 18 I think, but I was proud of how our team played. Our defense was on point and we got after it and really gelled with each other.

We thought we were only going to play two games Saturday, but they ended up making us play a third game at 7:30pm which was a playoff game. Although we were tired we got enough rest before our 3rd game started. This game was against former NBA player Larry Hughes’ team. We ended up beating them by a lot and I scored 26 points that game. I had it going from all over the court. Hitting 3 pointers, lay ups, stealing the ball and the list goes on. After the game my dad and I went back to our hotel room to rest, shower and prepare for Sunday…when the real competition begins.

 

3/4/2018

Playoff time at John Lucas.

We knew coming in that it would be very tough to get past a few teams because we had played them before in Florida last year. One team I knew was going to be tough was a team called Drive Nation, which is former NBA player Mo Williams’ team. Although we beat them at Nationals last year, I knew they were going to try to get revenge this year. The game was intense from the beginning…both teams scoring back and forth. My teammate Danny was killing in that game and also our two new teammates from Memphis, Billy and Braxton. They’re both real good and helped us win this game and other games as well. We ended up winning against Drive Nation by 8 points I think. We are now one of the final 8 teams, we played another good team from Louisiana, I forgot their name, but they were good. We as a team played well all around. From the starters to the bench, we played well and won the game.

So now we are final 4 game and we played against a team from Minnesota. I was on fire this game and I made 4 3’s and a few other lay ups and ended up with 19 points. Championship game is up next against a team called Houston Hoopers. They had two tall kids and they were the home team so we knew that some calls weren’t going to go for us. We just had to play hard and not worry about the referees. Team was tough, I can’t lie they had two good guards and they played hard and aggressive. But our coach Dante always prepares us for tough games by motivating us and telling us to match the opposing team’s intensity. We ended up winning the game by 14 points and I scored a team high 28 points making 4 3’s including an “and 1” 3 point shot. I was so exhausted, but I knew we came this far to win and to come back to NY with those rings. Overall it was a great tournament and great competition and we will be back next year. All the players got rings and the team got $500 plus $750 in uniform vouchers.

 

3/11/2018

Today was the championship game for middle school against Wagner. We played Wagner two times during the regular season and we lost the first game by 2 points and won the second game by 5 points. I was super nervous because although I’ve played in many championship games with my AAU team Gauchos, with this being my first year playing for a school it felt different. I didn’t play well at all and I hurt my thumb as well and we ended up losing by 10 points. Tough loss, but I still have two more years to play in middle school and going to try my best to make it to the championship game my last two years

3/17-3/18/2018

We played in a tournament called “Made Hoops” in Brooklyn NY. Competition was good and we played some good teams especially NJ All stars.

We ended up playing them in the championship game. They were beating us the whole game by 10 points. My boy Danny Carbuccia was killing all weekend, but in the championship game he played his best. He started making 3’s and attacking the basket, he made two huge 3’s to bring us back to tie the game with 30 seconds left. We got the ball back and my boy Nas attacked the basket and made the game winning lay up and we won the championship!! 🏆. Danny scored 26 points, Nas had 18 points and I scored 15 points, but everyone on the team played a big part in the win.

3/24-3/25/2018

We went on the road to play in Pennsylvania in the “A-Game” Tournament in Spooky Nook. The competition is always high in this tournament. You had some of the top teams in the country here like Dreamchasers, Team Thrill, Team Thrill DC, Takeover, New Heights, NJ All Stars and other teams just to name a few. Our pool was very tough and every game was down to the wire. All of them! But we came out victorious in all except the championship game where we lost to Team Takeover by 3 points in OT. We beat Team Takeover two times so far, but couldn’t pull it off in the championship game. They are a great team and we could’ve won, but we were all exhausted and the game started real late at 8:30pm smh.

Congrats to them and congrats to my team as well because we know we could’ve won the game if we would’ve made a few changes or if the game started on time and not so late. But we will keep working at every practice to get better. Until next time 🙌🏽

2/3/2018

Hey guys! I think i'm getting a hang of this diary thing..my dad helps me a lot. I had a game with my Gauchos team in Queens at the IS8 tournament. Didn’t feel well and tried to play, but I felt weak. So, I just sat and supported my teammates. Came back home and my temperature was 103.8 smh. My dad took really good care of me by giving me medicine and keeping me hydrated. I slept almost the whole day. I drank some Theraflu (which I have never had before). The next day I woke up a brand new person, it fixed me right up lol. I was happy because I felt like crap the day before…so thanks to my dad for always taking care of me when I’m sick if I’m with him, my mom always does as well.

2/6/2018

We have an away game today with my school team and I forgot what team we played, but the gym was so small lol they didn’t have a 3 point line. I had 11 points that game and it was a blow out.

2/8/2018

Today we have another game, but this time it’s at home in front of our home crowd. I love home games because my classmates really support us and even the girls team stays to watch us play. Also my dad’s friends usually come out and support as well, like both of my god fathers come support, Rondu and Walter, my mom, my dad, Mylo & Percio, who are brothers who grew up with my dad, my uncle jay, Dun Dun, who is another close friend of my dad, and Jaime. It’s great to have people who support you and want to see you doing good on and off the court.

2/10/2018

Stayed with my dad this weekend and my baby sister, who I love so much. She lives in New Jersey. I also have a game at IS8 again in Queens. My dad couldn’t make the game because he had to take care of my little sister Aly’Joi, so my coach Dante and CJ picked me up. We won both of our games and we’re in the championship against Rens next Saturday coming up or the following Saturday since we going to be playing in Maryland at the MIT tournament Feb.17-18th. I’m mad I can’t make this tournament because it’s my little bro’s birthday party the same day as the tournament. I’m sure my teammates will hold it down for me.

2/14/2018

So today is Valentine’s Day and it’s the day of Love lmao. I always try to make sure I get my mom something for Vday to show her my appreciation of her giving me life, always taking care of me and teaching me right from wrong. I love both of my parents the same. No in between or one more than the other. I love you MOM & DAD. Today I also had a game at school. The game was no competition as we won 56-26. We played without two of our players. One broke his ankle at recess and the other rolled his ankle at a game. We are going to need both of them for the playoffs if we are trying to win it all.

2/16/2018

Good morning guys, so today is my little brothers birthday! He turns 5 today. Happy birthday RJ, I love you! We are having a big All-Star birthday for him tomorrow at Gauchos and everyone has to dress like basketball players with jerseys or any type of basketball gear. It’s going to be so much fun and so many people will be there. Unfortunately I am not able to go to Maryland with my team because my mom wanted me to attend my brother’s party since I’ve been away for his past few birthdays. So I’m happy that I’m able to be there for my brother, but also sad I can’t go battle with my teammates at the MIT tournament.

2/17/2018

Today is the party for my little brother. Me and my mom and family been doing a lot of last minute touches for the party. Plus my dad took me to a morning workout since I wasn’t able to go to Maryland just to kind of keep me in shape and still work on my game. The decorations came out great for the party. We had a lot of food and a lot of family came and a lot of my friends as well. We had a great time.

2/18/2018

I slept till like 11 am…I was exhausted from the party. Relaxed for a few more hours then my mom took me to my dad’s house so I can spend some time with him. I found out that my team, that’s in Maryland, is playing really well and they are playing against the #1 team in the country, The DreamChasers, for the championship. I’m super excited that they made it far without me.

They ended up losing by 4, but I feel if I went on that trip we would’ve had a greater chance of winning. All in all I’m happy where we are playing as a group and we are really rooting for each other.

2/20/2018

I’m out of school for a week and my dad told me that he was going to have me workout with a new trainer called Coach A. He runs the GuardFam training program. I always knew who he was, but never trained with him. I trained with him for an hour and I loved it because it was non-stop and intense. He has so much ambition for the game. I will definitely keep training with him when I have the time.

2/24/2018

Today I have a pretty busy day. First at 10 am me and my team have a championship game in Queens for the IS8 winter league. Then later on in the evening, I have an All-Star game I got invited to play in for “Real Skills” in Long Island. We ended up winning the championship game and I got MVP which was a great accomplishment because it means I played well enough to help my team win.

The All-Star game was fun and it was packed with people from all over. Everyone got uniforms and some kids got free Adidas sneakers. Thanks to D from “Real Skills” for always supporting the youth all over NYC. We had all the top players from NYC under one roof from grades 3rd to 8th. My mom, little brother, little sister, my dad, my uncle and my grandfather all came to see me.

See you guys next month 

-Boogie

 

 

What’s up everyone, my name is Johnuel Fland also known as Boogie. I’m 11 years old, and 5’3 and play for the NY Gauchos. I have been playing for them since I was in 2nd grade. I love the game of basketball because it’s fun and I feel free on the court. I’ve been playing since I was 2 years old. My dad would take me to the park to shoot even though I couldn’t reach the rim lol

1/1/2018

I brought in the year with my family & went to the movies with my mom n brother then went to my grandma’s house to eat and watch the ball drop. It was tooooo cold to do anything this year lol. My grandma is cool I use her Netflix all the time to catch up on my shows and eat up all her cookies lol

1/3/2018

Worked out at Gauchos for about 3 hours. Coach Donte is a young coach with a lot of fire and always wants the best for his kids.  He is always pushing and making us work hard and reminding us it'll all pay off. I think it is important for a young player like myself to have someone who truly cares about our development. 

1/5/2018

It’s Friday which means last day of school. I have a workout in Harlem after I get to spend the weekend with my dad. I love staying with him because he always buys me a bacon, egg and cheese and lets me play 2K for as long as I want lol

I call this my "BaconEggCheese" dance LOL

1/7/2018

Practice at 2:30 at Gauchos gym. It’s usually long and very intense... so I ate breakfast twice lol. I had a bowl of cereal AND of course my bacon, egg and cheese lol. Also caught up on my show "The Flash". We are preparing for a tournament in Virginia from the 12–14th called Junior Phenom. A lot of top teams will be there so it’s time to lock in.

1/10/2018

Skip to Wednesday I had practice with my school team from 3-5pm then had practice at Gauchos from 6-8pm. It seems tiring, but I’m just trying to get better every day. Junior Phenom is coming up and if we're not prepared we'll get embarrassed.

1/12/2018

My dad and I are heading out to Virginia. Got Migos playlist blasting, their music always gets me hype before a tournament. I love that basketball allows me to see other cities and states. My dad always tells me to soak it all in and enjoy these moments.

1/13/2018

We got to Virginia pretty quick. My dad seems to think he can still make it on one of the Fast & Furious movies lol. We won both our games by blowout. Everyone played good. We got to see a lot of the other top teams around the country. Our day was over early and my dad and I went out to eat with Lala, her cousin Dice and Kiyan.

1/14/2018

We won 59-5 smh lol. We're just on a different level of play now, but now is when the real games start. We ended up playing our 4th game at 12pm against Team Takeover who is ALWAYS tough because of their height. We were down by 1 with 15 seconds left and I made the game winning 3 pointer to beat them to advance to the Final 4. I was super happy I was able to help my team out. Our next game was against Team Thrill from Baltimore, these kids are physical and tough since they all play football lol. They were beating us by 18 in the first half and we turned it up in the second half and came all the way back to tie it up, but ended up losing by 3. The game was so intense they had to call extra security just to be safe lol. Overall the tournament was great and we fought till the end. 

1/16/2018

Good morning guys... it’s back to school today and we play one of the toughest teams in middle school named Wagner. I hear they are good so I’m amped up about the game. I noticed one of their players that play with New Heights 7th grade AAU team, his name is Izzy. He plays hard on defense and knows how to handle the ball well. We ended up losing the game by 1. I had a bad game smh scored 7 points and we started out slow and couldn’t recover. We play them again on the 24th at their home so we trying to definitely get revenge on them. 

1/24/2018

We play Wagner middle school again after we lost to them last week by 1 point. We had revenge on our minds and got them back. They have been the toughest team so far for us. I’ve been sick with the flu but I still played. We started out slow and were down in the first few minutes but we came back and didn’t look back. We ended up winning 42-36. I didn’t play much do to me being sick but glad we got our revenge. 

1/27/2018

Me and my AAU team Gauchos are playing in the Hoop Group tournament out in Neptune, NJ. So far we are 2-0 , I played well both games scoring 12 points the first game and 14 points second game. 

1/28/2018

We beat a good NJ Bulldogs team to get to the championship. I hit a few shots but feel I could’ve played better. I got some time to relax a bit before we face Philly Fidonce in the championship game. Besides it being the chip game any time we play a team from out of state... it’s personal. We’re all repping where we come from so it’s intense. We didn’t back down though, kept calm and we won the B-Ball Spotlight championship!!!

See you guys next month!

 -Boogie