FSU basketball: Devin Vassell signs extension with San Antonio Spurs

It was reported that San Antonio Spurs forward Devin Vassell signed a five-year $146 million contract extension. Through his first three years in the NBA, the former FSU basketball standout has shown vast improvement on both ends of the floor and is an intricate part of the Spurs’ future. While many are praising Vassell for his hard work, it started in Tallahassee, Florida, where Vassell spent his college career at Florida State.

Before college, Vassell was a Seminole at heart. He played his high school career at Peachtree Ridge and became a standout talent. He was ranked number 35 in Georgia and continued to grow as a two-way talent. Luckily, that’s when head coach Leonard Hamilton and his staff came knocking on the door. Vassell later committed to Florida State, where he continued to add to the Seminole’s success.

Through his two years at Florida State, Vassell played a pivotal role as the starting forward for the team. Defensively, he was active, as his long wingspan gave him an advantage. Vassell was an energy booster on that end, as his effort led to easy transition baskets for Florida State. During Vassell’s tenure at Florida State, the Noles were one of the best defensive teams in the ACC.

While many viewed him as a traditional 3-and-D player, Vassell showed his skillset on offense. On occasion, he put the ball on the floor and created opportunities for himself and his teammates. During his career, Vassell averaged 8.4 points on 41 percent shooting from the three-point line. A few notable games that stand out during his career as a Seminole are hitting a game-tying three against Virginia Tech as well as multiple scoring outbursts.

During the 2019-20 season, Vassell played a big role in leading the Seminoles to a 26-5 record. Despite the NCAA Tournament cancellation due to COVID-19, many fans believe the Noles would have come out on top and won the National Championship. After two seasons in Garnet and Gold, Vassell declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. He was selected 11th overall by the Spurs.

During his three seasons, Vassell had the luxury of playing for legendary head coach Gregg Popovich. Despite the team’s rebuild, he’s continued to blossom into a terrific two-way talent and deserves more recognition. During the 2022-23 season, Vassell averaged  18.5 points on 44 percent shooting. Despite battling injuries throughout the year, the Spurs still believe in his value as a player. It’s why he signed an extension before the 2023-24 NBA season.