FSU Basketball lands grad transfer who picked Noles over major powers

FSU basketball will be adding another player to their roster for next season – someone who chose the Noles over teams with a much longer resume.

When people think of the Florida State Seminoles, the tendency is to think about the football program first – after all, it has been a household name for much of the last three decades. However, the FSU basketball team has held its own over time and got back to the Elite Eight this season for the third time in program history.

Over the last dozen years, the Noles have been in the top three when it comes to wins in the ACC – arguably the best conference for college basketball. Despite the success, head coach Leonard Hamilton’s team doesn’t always get the credit for being a power program. However, one major grad transfer could show how that mindset is changing.

The news came on Saturday when David Nichols, one of the most sought after grad transfers this season after playing three seasons for the University of Albany (NY), announced he is going to be spending his last season eligibility in Tallahassee.

The six foot, 190 lbs. native of Chicago averaged 14.6 points a game this past season – slightly down from the year befor, but would have led FSU basketball this season – while shooting nearly 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from three point range.

What’s even more impressive is the fact that Nichols decided to head to Tallahassee instead of several other programs that have played for national titles recently and tend to be thought of as “basketball powers”.

You can say a lot about FSU basketball during the Leonard Hamilton era, but you can not say that the staff doesn’t bring in some of the best players and knows how to recruit. The Seminoles will use Nichols in their constant rotation of players – stepping into the role that opened when C.J. Walker announced he will transfer.

Next: FSU listed in first Bracketology projections for 2019

While Nichols may not be the missing piece that sends the Seminoles back to the Final Four for the first time since 1972, he will provide depth, a solid shooting stroke and another experienced body to Hamilton’s gameplan this season.