Crossword Genius

Sp___ hoop left after I fled ___let (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

extol

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'i fled let' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'sp hoop left after' is the wordplay.
'sp' becomes 'ext' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'hoop' becomes 'o'.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'ext'+'o'+'l'='EXTOL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for extol that I've seen before include "Highly commend" , "Speak well of" , "Pay tribute to" , "trumpet" , "Speak highly" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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