ACC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2024-25 season

17. Florida State Seminoles

Coach Leonard Hamilton has been with the program for 23 years and has had plenty of success. But after a couple of down years, the Seminoles have been trending downward. And based on the current roster, there’s a good chance they can fall even further.

The good news for FSU is that Jamir Watkins is back after originally entering the transfer portal. He led the team with 15.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 2.8 apg on 46% shooting and will be a preseason All-ACC player to watch. The problem is that due to so many outgoing transfers this offseason, there’s very little proven production with the rest of the roster.

Forwards Bostyn Holt (12.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg at South Dakota) and Jerry Deng (10.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg at Hampton) are joined by All-American JUCO transfer Malique Ewin. There are multiple freshmen forwards to watch, including Christian Nitu and Alier Maluk. JUCO transfer Justin Thomas and four-star freshman guard Daquan Davis are backcourt players to watch, but unless Chandler Jackson has a big year, the perimeter leaves a lot to be desired. 

Florida State has 11 scholarship players, seven playing their first season at the D-I level. If it weren’t for Watkins, this would be one of the worst power conference rosters in the country. And there’s a chance it still ends up that way.