With greater depth and key new faces, Hamilton expects strong rebound for FSU Basketball

Leonard Hamilton is smiling a lot more these days than he did during the bulk of the Florida State men’s basketball team’s 2022-23 campaign.

As he enters his 22nd season as the Seminoles’ head coach, Hamilton describes what happened to his program one year ago as somewhat of a perfect storm.

There were the three key players who surprised him by going pro with eligibility remaining. The season-ending injuries to a pair of starters. The half-season suspension for his most talented freshman.

It was a series of setbacks that left the Seminoles helpless and nearly hopeless for much of a 9-23 season. They ended up being arguably the worst defensive team in the ACC, one of the worst offensive teams, and the second-worst squad in terms of rebounding margin.

But Hamilton insists that is all in the past. And even though Florida State lost two of its top three scorers from that sub-par team, he is clearly excited and confident about the possibilities in 2023-24.

“Our depth is back,” Hamilton said in an interview with Warchant and other local media this past week. “We now have enough depth where we can sustain the effort for long periods of time like we have in the past. Last year, obviously, we were a little short on depth.”

A “little short” would be putting it mildly.

Throughout his tenure at Florida State, Hamilton has prided himself on playing nine- or 10-man rotations, and occasionally even more than that. But the Seminoles almost never had that luxury last season.

They often played just six, seven or eight players, and those players’ minutes often ballooned to 36 or more per game. While that extended court time would be a challenge for most teams, it was extraordinarily arduous for FSU given Hamilton’s desire to pressure the ball defensively with an aggressive man-to-man defense, and also to push it up the court on offense.

He said he contemplated changing his approach midseason — slowing things down to preserve energy and perhaps even win a couple more games — but he felt it would be better for the Seminoles’ young lineup to at least learn his systems on the fly. So that when Florida State had a full roster again in 2023-24, the players would be able to hit the ground running.

Hamilton was speaking specifically about rising sophomores Cam Corhen, Chandler Jackson, Baba Miller, Tom House and De’Ante Green.

A couple of those players might have redshirted last season under normal circumstances. Maybe only one or two would have seen extensive minutes.

Instead, they were all rushed into action. And Hamilton said they all are a year older, stronger and smarter coming into the 2023-24 campaign.

Also coming back are a pair of important front-court players who missed all, or most, of last season due to serious knee injuries.

Graduate student Jaylan Gainey was expected to start at center after transferring in from Brown, but he went down during the preseason. Then veteran forward Cam’Ron Fletcher, who was the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading rebounder, sustained his own knee injury just a few weeks into the season.

Hamilton said both players are on track to be major contributors this season, even though they have been held out of some preseason drills for precautionary reasons..

“We’re not as interested in Cam Fletcher and Gainey being ready in September,” the Florida State head coach said. “We want to make sure that we have them over the long haul.”

After losing several players to the transfer portal — most notably leading scorer Matthew Cleveland to Miami and third-leading scorer Caleb Mills to Memphis — the Seminoles went out and landed three veteran transfers as well.

FSU beefed up its backcourt with the additions of veteran guards Primo Spears (Georgetown) and Josh Nickelberry (La Salle), and the Seminoles also added athletic forward Jamir Watkins from VCU.

“Those guys are battle tested,” Hamilton said. “They were significant contributors to the teams that they came from. And I think that helps the transition period. Their skill sets fit the way we want to play. Jamir is a good shooter, good ball-handler, athletic, downhill driver and good passer. Josh Nickelberry is a great shooter. He’s savvy, makes good decisions. Offensively, he’s known for being a really good 3-point shooter. But he’s also athletic, can drive and finish.

“Primo brings that Toney Douglas mentality defensively — 94 feet. He really creates off the dribble. And he’s a good perimeter shooter.”

Hamilton said he also has seen great improvement from returning veterans such as shooting guard Darin Green Jr. and point guard Jalen Warley. Green has worked to become more of a complete player after primarily serving as a spot-up shooter last season, and Warley is much more confident at both ends of the floor.

Improved confidence is also expected to make a major difference for Baba Miller, who played a key role for the Spanish junior national team during its historic run at the U-19 World Cup this summer.

Miller averaged only 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds for Florida State when he was cleared by the NCAA to play for the second half of last season, but he was dominant at times for Team Spain.

“I think the experience that he had this summer with his national team has given him a lot more confidence,” Hamilton said.

Florida State also has added a pair of incoming freshmen, most notably 6-10 forward Taylor Bol Bowen. The four-star prospect was rated the nation’s No. 11 power forward, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, and the No. 70 overall recruit in his class.

“Taylor is a little more skilled than most incoming freshmen, but his athleticism is exceptional,” Hamilton said, adding that Bowen also is a strong perimeter shooter.

FSU also brings in 6-10 project Alhagie Waka Mbatch, a Gambia native who grew up playing soccer before experiencing a growth spurt at age 14 and finding basketball.

“Waka is a youngster who is adjusting to the American game,” Hamilton said. “He’s starting from a different vantage point than the other guys because of his background and development. But his progress has been steady.”

Florida State’s first exhibition game is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 29, against Flagler College. The Seminoles then will take on Valdosta State on Nov. 5 before opening the regular season on Nov. 10 against Kennesaw State.

Note on Primo Spears’ eligibility

Because this is his second transfer as an undegraduate student, Primo Spears will need a waiver from the NCAA to play this season for the Seminoles. The point guard started his college career at Duquesne, then played last season at Georgetown before leaving to become a Seminole this past offseason.

While the NCAA has cracked down in recent months when it comes to granting waivers, Hamilton expressed confidence that Spears’ situation will meet the criteria for acceptance.

“I know the details surrounding the request, and I’ll probably go on a limb and say I feel good about the approach that we’ve made,” he said.

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