FSU Men’s Basketball Preseason Primer

Last season did not end the way it was supposed to for Florida State’s men’s basketball team. Despite having two star players in Dwayne Bacon and Malik Beasley, along with seasoned veterans like Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Devon Bookert, the Seminoles failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season. A late season collapse tainted views of a promising team and revived discussion around head coach Leonard Hamilton’s job security.

The team hopes to answer all the questions and silence all the critics this season. In addition to returning six different contributors (including three starters), Florida State has brought in yet another good recruiting class to infuse youth into the team. The Seminoles still play in the best basketball conference in America, but they are quickly running out of excuses for why they have not seen success in the past few years.

There are more decisions riding on this year than fans may assume. On paper, this is a team that should be finishing above .500 in the ACC and contending for an NCAA Tournament spot. However, those were the expectations last season as well, and they did neither. It is time for Hamilton to show that he can still put together a competitive team and sustain multi-year success at Florida State. With the team he has in his holster, it is hard not to like his chances.

Who Returns?

Who’s New?

F Jonathan Isaac (Fr.) – The projected future NBA Draft pick comes into Tallahassee with the hopes of helping get the Seminoles back to the NCAA Tournament. If he can reach most of his potential, that will not be a difficult task. Isaac looks like a post player at 6-10 and 210 pounds, but his ball handling and moves are that of a guard. The comparison of “baby Kevin Durant” has been thrown around a lot, and while that might be very optimistic, nobody would deny he has near the potential of Durant. He can shoot from almost anywhere on the court and is a match-up nightmare for college coaches. He will likely only be at FSU for one year, so fans should enjoy his play while they can.

G C.J. Walker (Fr.) – Walker was an underrated commitment to the Seminoles, having been ranked 126th overall in the nation and a top 30 point guard. He is most comfortable when attacking the basket, showing great vision not just in scoring but in passing it out as well. Some within the program have also lauded his 3-point shooting and hinted that he might be getting more consistent in this area. This was at least partially confirmed when he won the 3-point shooting contest at “Jam With Ham”, though obviously it is an informal barometer. Either way, Walker would seem to be the best candidate for the future starting point guard job.

G Trent Forrest (Fr.) – There is an argument to be made that Forrest has the most potential of any guard on the team. It’s not hard to see why: he is listed at 6-5 and 215 pounds, and all observers highlight his quickness on the wing and strength when going to the rim. Whether or not he will play point seems to be the discussion. While his unique size might make him an interesting prospect there, he flourished on offense in high school when playing off the ball. This same size could make him excellent on defense, leading many to believe that Forrest will likely play more so on the wing.

F Mfiondu Kabengele (Fr.) – Most FSU fans know more about Kabengele’s uncle (Dikembe Mutombo) than about Kabengele as a player. If he is coached properly under Hamilton, that won’t last long. Kabengele seems to know how to use his size (6-9, 235 pounds) more than most project players, since he is aggressive while rebounding and displays good handles in the post. He still needs to improve defensively and could be better when passing, but the tools are all there for Kabengele to get playing time in the upcoming year. He could turn into a reliable starter in the coming years.

F Will Miles (Fr.) – Miles’ bio on Seminoles.com says that he is the fourth member of his family to play basketball at Florida State. He was seemingly not recruited by other major programs, so Miles will likely be a backup player for most of his career.

G Travis Light (Fr.) -Light is in a similar boat as Miles. He might provide some outside shooting at one point, but he will likely never start for FSU

G P.J. Savoy (So.) – The Seminoles seem committed to establishing threats from the 3-point line, and Savoy is one step towards that. Savoy is a junior college transfer with good size at 6-4 and 200 pounds and a great shooting stroke from deep. In his last season at Sheridan College, he scored 16.8 points per game on 42 percent 3-point shooting and 46 percent overall shooting. Savoy might never be a starter at either guard position, but he could be a valuable player in the mold of Devon Bookert — someone who comes in when needed and can provide crucial scoring stretches.

G Braian Angola-Rodas (Jr.) – Both Savoy and Angola-Rodas were great JUCO pickups for Hamilton. Angola-Rodas was named a first team junior college All-American and has the potential to be a starter down the road. Currently, he is a bit of a “tweener” at the guard positions, since his size (6-5, 195 pounds) might indicate a shooting guard future, while his shooting and passing are more similar to point guards. It will be interesting to see which path he goes down while at Florida State, and fans might be hearing his name much more in the future.

What Did They Do Last Season?

The Seminoles finished 20-14 overall and 8-10 in the ACC. They defeated Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament, but then lost to Virginia Tech in the second round. After missing a bid for the NCAA Tournament, they went to the National Invitational Tournament, where they lost to Valparaiso in the second round.

Where Are They Ranked?

Many outlets have FSU maintaining a spot near the bottom of or right outside the top 25. CBS Sports put the Seminoles at No. 31 overall, while the USA Today Coaches Poll had them receive the most votes outside of the top 25. Just recently, FSU was picked to finish eighth in the ACC.