Florida State officially hired Luke Loucks as their head basketball coach just over 40 days ago. Those first 40 days have been busy, but promising.
I think it is a good time to reflect on what was said and what has been done by the new head coach of the Seminoles.
As the Seminoles were working through the process of hiring their next head coach, which became Loucks, Noles247 reported on the financials associated with the hire – head coach pay, assistants and staff purse, and also revenue share for building out a roster. Without getting into the weeds, at a time in college basketball when the money being spent is soaring, FSU, and Loucks, were going to have to do things in a more frugal manner.
When Loucks was hired and did his introductory press conference, he laid out his vision for a program, a staff, a style of play, and much, much more. He also wholeheartedly understood that for his program to be good, and to have the resources necessary, he was going to have to be a fundraiser. It can be viewed as a constraint or a challenge, but it is something that Loucks took head-on upon being hired. He has been an extremely active fundraiser since his hire and understands the cost of doing business and assembling a roster. He came off as a man with a plan for rejuvenating a program that he had brought great success as a player on the court.
First he had to hire a staff, or at least portions of it. Loucks leaned into two long-time relationships with the immediate hires of Michael Fly and Gerald Gillion. Two former head coaches with a great understanding of the Sunshine State and who Loucks has a great familiarity with. They helped Loucks hit the ground running. He has continued to fill it out with a variety of assistants, such as Amorrow Morgan from Cal, and support staff. He said some hires would take time, as the NBA season had to conclude, and the moment that conclusion came, a hire came in the form of Jim Moran – who had worked with Loucks during his time with the Kings. Loucks has built a coaching staff and support staff that fits the ideas he laid out in that original press conference, experienced coaches who can help players develop. His support staff has plenty of similar characteristics when it comes to evaluation and development. Again, a fine example of having a plan and then going about and executing said plan.
While working to hire a staff, the focus was also immediately on the roster. Loucks made it clear that many on FSU’s roster at the time of his hire would be departing, simply because neither party was right for the other. A change was coming to FSU Basketball and he was going to have honest conversations with those who wore the uniform here a season ago. A month later, two members of FSU’s previous roster remain, both promising young players – Alier Maluk and AJ Swinton – while the remainder have either exhausted eligibility or entered the NCAA Transfer Portal – and in the case of Jamir Watkins, also submitted their name for the NBA Draft.
With a depleted roster, a real proving ground was before Loucks and his staff. Assembling their first roster. The group that will help to lay a foundation of what Loucks time at FSU will be. They hit the ground running and it has been an incredible few weeks of work:
– Drexel junior transfer guard Kobe Magee was his first visitor. The Seminoles were battling Wake Forest, who also hosted him, for his services. Loucks and FSU won out, adding the talented 6-foot-6, 205-pound college basketball veteran. A top target, quick focus, and showing the ability to win a battle. All proven off the bat with the first one. Loucks wanted Magee to be his first addition and Magee felt some level of significance to that designation.
– Loucks stated regularly in his first times talking with the media that he was going to focus on the Sunshine State for a portion of his team’s talent. Lajae Jones, a junior guard from St. Bonaventure, was the second add for Loucks. The native of the Jacksonville, Fla. area publicly committed within 48 hours of wrapping his visit to FSU. Again, another target quickly identified, brought in for a visit, and secured. Also, it began to lay out the idea of versatile pieces that can shoot, but also do a variety of other things on the court.
– Next up was Chauncey Wiggins. The former Clemson stretch forward transfer committed a day after his visit to FSU concluded. Like the prior two commitments, a veteran college player with a ton of experience. Wiggins has shown plenty in his college career, but definitely feels like an example of Loucks believing he can maximize a player’s abilities and talents.
– Jacksonville junior guard transfer Robert McCray V was up next. There is a direct line to the new FSU staff with McCray, as one of his assistant coaches at JU was Michael Fly, who is now on FSU’s staff. Another productive veteran player who can provide help at the point guard position added. A clear theme emerging in the type of players and the experience that Loucks desired at FSU off the bat.
– The next addition was the first that was different than all of the others. FSU turned over every rock and found a versatile, defensive-minded forward from France in the Overtime Elite ranks and landed Thomas Bassong. The 6-foot-7 wing, who is a high school signee, had visited UCF, was hearing from Loyola Marymount, Gonzaga and more, but FSU got him on campus and soon after got a commitment. A developmental player with upside, but again shows an ability to shoot and is viewed as someone who desires to play high-level defense.
– Back to the portal they went and bulking up their frontcourt was a focus, by landing Alex Steen. He wasn’t a hidden gem, but he was a bit buried in the college basketball world at Florida Southern. Colleges were aware of him though. The Panama City, Fla. native (another Florida kid) would hear from Kentucky, Louisville, and plenty of others. Loucks and company secured a commitment and signing even before hosting him. He is a high-motor big who can play multiple spots. An experienced player. He is someone that likely brings a bit of toughness, combined with good athleticism, to the squad he is joining.
– After the addition of Steen, the focus turned towards bulking up the backcourt with future and immediate help. FSU found an Orlando, Fla. native in Cam Miles, a post-grad player at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy who had previously signed with Temple. Again, quickly got a visit and that was followed swiftly by a commitment. Similar to Bassong, a potential long-term piece that bolsters the depth of the roster. Miles is a combo guard who has an ability to shoot, drive, and distribute.
– With depth in the backcourt, an experienced collegiate point guard was the necessity for FSU at this point in the process. That was their messaging and their actions. FSU evaluated multiple targets, would try to secure a visit from one target (Max Green), but took a rare lump in the early days when he popped to Northwestern on a visit before making it to Tallahassee.
They had to pivot and they did so quickly, with a target already in mind.
UMass Lowell guard Martin Somerville was that target. Before FSU could host him, he was going to visit BYU – a very financially invested basketball program. FSU got him in for the visit and secured his pledge. Somerville’s pledge to FSU came on the 40th day of Loucks officially being FSU’s head coach.
In the evaluating of the first 40 days, and three furiously-paced recruiting weeks, FSU book-ended with priority commitments where they won battles and secured guys viewed as necessities to their plans in 2025-26. The roster is now built out to 10, with finishing touches to come. They’ve accumulated a number of versatile players that can pass, shoot, dribble, guard, and play multiple positions.
There is still more work to be done, no doubt. Roster isn’t done. FSU is in the market for at least a couple more pieces. They want a legitimate center with size and are also in the market for a guard with the versatility to play multiple positions. On the big, they need someone who can play fast, so a mobile big man with skills will be valued, over someone with just sheer size.
They will have patience in finishing off the roster, but if they identify someone that they believe fits the vision, then expect them to move fast and work to secure a pledge – much like they have done in the first 40 days.
Once the roster is assembled and arrives in May (and for Bassong, a bit further down the road), then you have to get the group together, create chemistry in a rush, and implement your system on the court.
Tall tasks ahead.
That being said, the first 40 days of Luke Loucks has provided plenty of promise.
