TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Leonard Hamilton has all the time tried to construct and win with veteran groups. This season the Florida State coach will win with a brand new sort of veteran.
“We’re fortunate now that every one of our returning veterans, our two-year veterans, they have improved with hard work over the summer,” Hamilton stated. “And to my pleasure, the incoming players that we have are farther along than I thought they would be at this stage.”
Hamilton and the Seminoles have constructed rosters by way of the years that lean on size, athleticism and depth. They have additionally featured a mix of seniors in addition to transfers and a few one-and-done stars. But the Seminoles haven’t had a scenario like this, the place they return simply 5 gamers and all of them are starting solely their second season in Tallahassee.
Florida State’s returning 5 are a superb basis — productive gamers who’re evolving into leaders. They shall be complemented by just a few transfers and freshmen who may assist this system get again to the NCAA Tournament after falling quick at 17-14 throughout an injury-depleted 2021-22 season.
The Seminoles return their high two scorers in guards Caleb Mills (12.7 factors) and Matthew Cleveland (11.5 factors). Also again is ahead Cam’Ron Fletcher, who averaged 6.8 factors off the bench final season, in addition to heart Naheem McLeod and guard Jalen Warley.
FSU additionally welcomes junior guard Darin Green Jr., a UCF switch who led the group in scoring (13.3 factors) and 3-pointers (87) final season. Forward Baba Miller, a 6-foot-11 ahead who performed for Spain’s under-18 nationwide group over the summer season, leads a freshman class that additionally consists of heart Cameron Corhen, ahead De’Ante Green and guard Chandler Jackson.
Hamilton thinks his unranked group will make an impression rapidly.
“When you look back even at the times we’ve won the ACC, ranked in the top 10 at the end of the season, those years we’ve never been preseason in the Top 25,” Hamilton stated. “I’m expecting to have a really good year. Hopefully we’ll be a surprise team in the country.”
INJURY WATCH
Florida State misplaced 54 video games to harm in 2021-22, with 5 of the Seminoles’ high 9 scorers pressured to observe for giant chunks of the ACC schedule. One early query is Jaylen Gainey, a 6-foot-10 switch from Brown who was the Ivy League’s defensive participant of the 12 months in 2020 and ’22. Gainey suffered a preseason harm and could possibly be out an in depth a part of the season.
NO EARLY RETIREMENT
Hamilton was employed at Florida State in 2002 and turned 74 in August. At a time the place a few of the greatest names in faculty basketball have opted to retire, notably Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (now 75) and UNC’s Roy Williams (now 72), Hamilton embraces his position as a mentor and coach.
“I’m happy where I am, my family is happy and we’re expecting bigger and better things,” stated Hamilton, whose groups are 78-42 for the reason that begin of the 2016-17 season. “Don’t ask me when I’m retiring. As long as I can come out of the locker room and not accidentally go sit on the other coach’s bench because I don’t know where I’m at, I’m going to hang in there.”
FAMILIAR FACE
Green Jr. shot 6 of 9 from past the 3-point arc in UCF’s win over Florida State on Dec. 19, 2020. The 6-foot-5 guard made 208 3-pointers in three seasons at UCF, making 38.8 pictures from lengthy vary. The early impressions of Green Jr. at Florida State have been spectacular: He shot 13 of 30 from 3-point vary throughout a three-game exhibition tour in Canada this summer season.
SIXTH SENSE
Florida State has received the final 4 ACC Sixth Man of the Year awards: Mfiondu Kabengele, Patrick Williams, Scottie Barnes and Cleveland. The 6-foot-7 Cleveland has tried to make newcomers really feel extra comfy throughout preseason practices.
“Just making sure that everyone, the transfers and the incoming guys, that they have the information that they need to play within the system and to be comfortable,” Cleveland stated.
SCHEDULE
Florida State will host preseason No. 1 North Carolina on Feb. 27 and No. 18 Virginia on Jan. 14. The Seminoles will journey to play at Duke on Dec. 31. They may even face 5 colleges that obtained votes within the presason AP Top 25: Florida, Miami, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Purdue.
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More AP faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25