Florida State Basketball: David Nichols makes Seminoles an ACC threat

David Nichols joins a Florida State Seminoles team fresh off a surprising NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight.

Bracket enthusiasts around the country predominantly picked Florida State to lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Yet they made it all the way to the Elite Eight before finally succumbing to Michigan.

Nevertheless, they’re back to winning this offseason.

Albany graduate transfer David Nichols decided to join the team on Monday. Since he’s set to receive his degree this year, he’ll be eligible immediately for Florida State.

Last year, he averaged 14.6 points for the Great Danes. The year before that, he was an All-American East guard. According to The Athletic, Missouri and Oklahoma were among the other schools pursuing Nichols.

If this latest addition doesn’t prove next year’s Florida State squad is a threat in the ACC, nothing will.

The team did lose two essential contributors to graduation this year. They also lost CJ Walker, who decided to transfer to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

But the rest of the team’s core returns. That includes Terance Mann, who is ready to become the focal point of the team, despite a rough Elite Eight performance. MJ Walker can be a superstar in Year 2 of his college career. Rising junior Trent Forrest, who led the team in assists, is knocking on the door too.

Coach Leonard Hamilton has made a habit out of turning overlooked talent into cohesive, competitive teams. Since he took over the head job in 2002, only five Seminoles have been selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Most turned out to have pedestrian careers (although the jury is still out on Jonathan Isaac).

Still, Hamilton has been to six NCAA Tournaments during that stretch, advancing to at least the Sweet Sixteen on three separate occasions.

Next: Preseason ACC rankings for 2018-19

The 2017-18 season could bring another deep run.