FSU basketball head coach Luke Loucks continues to make moves with roster acquisitions. He has added several transfer portal players, one high school player, and had one player on the roster to announce his return for next year. Now, make that two. Center Alier Maluk announced he plans to return for his sophomore season to play for Luke Loucks in 2025-26.
Year #2🏃🔄🇸🇸 pic.twitter.com/Jd6q4gv1nu
— Alier Maluk (@Maluk_Alier12) April 7, 2025
Maluk was a four-star recruiting prospect from New York out of high school. The 7'0" 218-pound center ranked as the No. 84 player nationally and the No. 14 center. He was the No. 4 player in New York.
Maluk played in 31 games with two starts as a freshman for Leonard Hamilton in 2024-25. He averaged 11 minutes, 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .5 blocks pg.
It's important to note that 44 percent of his rebounds were on the offensive end, and he shot 71.4 percent from the free-throw line. That's solid for a seven-footer. He also shot 55 percent overall. Maluk only played more than 20 minutes twice all season, but scored his highest and second-highest amount of points in those contests. Both games were near the end of the season, which bodes well for his future in Tallahassee and he has a chance to develop nicely in Loucks's offensive system.
Maluk will be the seventh player on the roster, joining these guys:
- Kobe Magee (Drexler)
- LaJae Jones (St. Bonaventure)
- Chauncey Wiggins (Clemson)
- Robert McCray (Jacksonville)
- AJ Swinton(Decided to stay at FSU)
- Thomas Bassong (high school)
Loucks is still waiting to see what happens with four-star small forward Joshua Lewis. He officially visited FSU last week. He's the No. 49 player nationally and the No. 11 small forward. He hails from Tampa, Florida. Players continue to enter the transfer portal, so others could emerge as potential targets as more guys become available.