FSU basketball: Cam’Ron Fletcher out for season again

The Seminoles found themselves in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in their first ACC matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels. At one point, they held a 13-point lead in the second half and looked like they were on their way to a win. Unfortunately, the Tar Heels climbed back and won the contest 78-70. Not only did the Noles blow a double-digit lead, but also lost one of their important pieces, Cam’Ron Fletcher.

Here we go again! Fletcher is placed in the same situation that he was in last season. After playing 10 games during the 2022-23 season, he tore his ACL, which sidelined him for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, his season was cut short again. At the beginning of the season, Fletcher was playing great basketball for the Seminoles. It played a role in why the team got off to a 4-1 start and won the Sunshine Slam Championship.

Fletcher was a perfect fit for Leonard Hamilton and the Florida State Seminoles. As a wing, he has perfect size and could play at multiple positions. On offense, Fletcher was an energy booster. He could score inside and out as he could play anywhere on the floor. When Florida State found themselves in a funk on offense, it was Fletcher who could provide a spark. His willingness to score on that end of the floor brought momentum to the team.

Defensively, Fletcher was a menace. His size could disrupt opposing teams with his physicality and athleticism. On several occasions, Fletcher would take on the challenge of defending the opposing team’s ball handler. His goal was to wreak havoc as he would defend from 94 feet. Fletcher’s length also allowed him to get into passing lanes and force turnovers. The opposing team losing possession would lead to easy transition baskets for Florida State.

Fletcher averaged 6.7 points per game along with five rebounds. He had two double-digit games that resulted in blowout wins for Florida State. Fletcher was only getting warmed up in the first few games. After missing most of last season, he was slowly finding his groove. It’s an unfortunate situation to watch him go down once again after playing so well.

The question for the Seminoles is who can fill the role of Cam’Ron Fletcher. Who could be a member of the second unit who can provide a spark on both ends of the floor? This could be an opportunity for players like Chandler Jackson to elevate his play. Jackson has played well for the Seminoles in the early season. He can knock down perimeter shots plus is great at finding open players. With his size and physicality, Jackson could have a bigger role for the Seminoles without Fletcher.

The road to recovery starts again for Cam’Ron Fletcher. While it can be an upsetting situation, the goal for him is to once again return better than before. However, the ultimate challenge for Coach Hamilton is to once again adjust his rotation. The Noles must continue to figure out how to win despite Fletcher’s absence.

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