Florida State fans were confused a few days ago when freshman Thomas Bassong announced plans to enter the transfer portal, because he and Florida State had already announced he would return for his sophomore season.
Florida State signed an international player the next day, and fans never got clarity on what happened with Bassong, until now. Bassong took to his social media page to give his side of the story, as seen below:
There was a contract that I had to sign that I couldn’t sign because my agent my family and I didn’t think it was fair for me. They offered me another contract and gave me a deadline to sign it. I’ve overpassed the deadline so they told me to in the portal. It wasn’t my decision.
— Thomas Bassong Croixmarie (@guabsom) April 24, 2026
It's a business at the end of the day, no more, no less.
Here's my translation of all that
Florida State and Bassong had a verbal agreement that he would return before actually signing the contract. They announced he would return, but the contract may not have been to the liking of Bassong's agent and family. Florida State wanted to keep Bassong, so they drafted a new contract that they thought reflected his value, gave him a deadline to sign it before they didn't have many spots remaining on the roster.
Bassong and his folks must not have liked the second offering and let the deadline pass, so Florida State told him to enter the transfer portal. It's pretty cut and dry. Bassong had a choice to sign the contract and decided not to sign it. Whether its his fault, his agent, family, or all three. He had a choice and made it.
It's a business nowadays, at the end of the day, and schools are making investments in players based on what they perceive his value to be. Florida State wanted Bassong to return obviously, or they never would have offered a second contract.
It sounds like Bassong wanted to return, but his team and Florida State could agree to deal they believed was fair to both sides. While Bassong says he didn't have a choice, that's not true, but I give him credit for not throwing the coaching staff under the bus in his post.
I hope he winds ups in a good spot and flourishes.
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