FSU Basketball: Important Offseason for Leonard Hamilton

After a disappointing 2022-2023 season where FSU basketball finished 9-23, this will be a very important offseason for Leonard Hamilton and his staff.

The Noles were projected to be a good team last off-season, but the wheels fell off pretty early, and they never recovered.

The team appeared to lack depth off the bench and were inexperienced in Leonard Hamilton’s system.
After the dismal season, some players opted to transfer out of the program. Matthew Cleveland, the teams’ leading scorer, went to rival Miami, Caleb Mills moved on to Memphis, Naheem McLeod to Syracuse, and Freshman Jeremiah Bembry also entered the portal.

To attempt to right the ship and re-shape the roster, Hamilton turned to the transfer portal and signed three players that will bring much-needed experience. They signed Primo Spears (Georgetown), Josh Nickelberry (La Salle), and Jamir Watkins (VCU) from the portal and blue-chip recruit 4-star F Taylor Bowen.

Scouting Report: Primo averaged 16.0 points per game for Georgetown last season, he also sees the floor and can find the open man. He can also be a lock-down man-to-man defender.

Scouting Report: Josh averaged 10.9 points per game for La Salle last season. He is a good three-point shooter and good from the line.

Scouting Report: Jamir got his first real game action last season with VCU and averaged 9.5 points per game. Walkins may be an off-the-bench role player for the Noles and help on defense.

Scouting Report: Taylor is a 4-star forward who was ranked #42 in the top 100 for the class of 2023. He is long and athletic with the ability to work inside or outside, is a plus defender.

Projected Roster

Guards:

• Chandler Jackson 6-5, 215, SO (4-star ’22)
• Jalen Warley 6-6, 200, SO (4-star ’21)
• Josh Nickelberry 6-4, 205, SR (Transfer from La Salle ’23)
• Primo Spears 6-3, 185, JR (Transfer from Georgetown ’23)

Forwards:

• Tom House 6-7, 200, SO (3-star ’22)
• Darin Green Sr 6-5, 195, Jr (Transfer from UCF ’22)
• Cam’Ron Fletcher 6-7, 215, Jr (Transfer from Kentucky ’22)
• De’Ante Green 6-10, 210, SO (3-star ’22)
• Jamir Watkins 6-7, 210, JR (Transfer from VCU ’23)
• Taylor Bowen 6-9, 195, FR (4-star ’23)
• Baba Miller 6-11, 204, SO (International Transfer ’22)

Post Players:

• Cam Corhen 6-10, 225, SO (4-star ’22)
• Jaylan Gainey 6-10, 220, SR (Transfer from Brown ’22)

Roster Thoughts:

Coach Hamilton has said they may not be done in the portal, and if they do pull another player, I expect it to be one more player max. This team does not have a true superstar, but Hamilton and his staff have done well in the past with that formula and having several players who can contribute.

There is potential here in players like Jalen Warley, Primo Spears, and Cam Corhen to take key roles on the team. We will see h

Projected Depth Chart

I will give my initial guess on a depth chart but we all know this will change.

PG – Jackson, Warley

SG – Spears, Nickelberry, House, D.Green

SF – Fletcher, Watkins, Bowen

PF – Miller, De. Green

C – Gainey, Corhen