FSU Recruiting: Waiting on Wiggins

Mar 7, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Akil Mitchell (25) loses the tipoff to Florida State Seminoles forward Okaro White (10) at the start of the first half in their game at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

And now, we wait.

Florida State’s regular season ended two weeks ago against Louisiana Tech.  Not the way FSU planned on finishing its season.

Meanwhile, we are in the midst of the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes.

The stakes for Wiggins are big–he must choose the right place for him, the place that will get him the right exposure and the right coaching.  And also, the right balance and chemistry to have a successful team.

Wiggins won’t transform a program like UNC, however.

Or Kansas.

Or Kentucky.

Those legacies and traditions are set.  Wiggins, truly, will not be but a drop in the bucket.  At FSU, Wiggins has the chance to pave the walkway and not be just another stepping stone in the walkway.

With all due respect to the Chris Singletons, Derwin Kitchens, and Michael Snaears of the world, Andrew Wiggins has the potential to take FSU from “good” to “great” with one simple letter of intent.

The other schools have better talent.  Without a doubt.  But FSU is in the ballpark.  FSU has 4-star talent up and down the roster.  FSU has the big men.  FSU has the point guard.  FSU has the coach that can broaden Wiggins’ game.  FSU is also upgrading its facilities.

"Florida State University officials finally know what it will cost to upgrade the Civic Center — and it’s not going to be cheap.Bottom line: Anywhere from $40 million for what are described as necessary, immediate improvements to more than $100 million for a Cadillac-style makeover.That is the price range that Jim Swords, an architect and principal with the consulting firm Populous, presented during a Tuesday morning meeting at the Civic Center.Swords stressed that the recommended improvements are not designed to increase revenue at the Civic Center, but to improve the experience for its patrons. There are countless options that FSU can consider — Swords referred to it more than once as a “Chinese menu” — but he urged FSU President Eric Barron and his leadership team to make basic changes right away.Barron said he plans to meet Monday to figure out how to proceed. FSU administrators also face the daunting task of figuring out how they will fund the improvements.“You can’t put a price tag on recruiting, on what an improved arena will look like on TV, what it will be like for the community,” Barron said.Meanwhile, FSU’s ownership of the 32-year-old facility still needs approval from the Legislature, which is expected to sign off soon on the transfer from the city and Leon County to FSU.“(The Civic Center) looks worn and it needs attention,” Barron said. “We will have to decide what we want to do first.”"

FSU is serious about basketball.  FSU is renovating the Civic Center, but since the renovations will be ongoing over the next few years, we might rename the Civic Center to the “House that Wiggins built.”