FSU basketball lands massive blue-chip recruit from transfer portal over top teams

FSU basketball head coach Luke Loucks is on fire, loading his roster for the 2025-26 season. FSU learned former four-star center Alier Maluk would return for his sophomore season earlier Monday.

That was a big win, but the news that came Monday night was another major win. Florida Southern big man Alex Steen has signed with FSU, although he wasn't expected to visit Tallahassee until this weekend.

Steen lists 6'8" and 225 pounds, averaging 18.2 pp, 11.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, and 2.6 bpg last season. He was the two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Steen had heard from several schools since entering the transfer portal. FSU beat some heavyweights like Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Alabama, Louisville, Kansas State, Creighton, and many more schools.

His production is great, but FSU beating some notable teams on the recruiting trail for a guy who was wanted by so many is an important note.

Steen played high school ball at Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Florida. Tallahassee is only about two hours away from there, which made it a homecoming of sorts. Florida Southern is located in Lakeland, Florida, which is six hours southeast. FSU provides the opportunity to stay in-state, play in a major conference, and for a coach with NBA experience.

FSU now has eight players on its roster and slowly coming together over the past week or so. FSU basketball has more momentum on the recruiting trail than it's had in quite some time over the past few years, especially in the transfer portal.

Coach Loucks continues assembling his coaching staff, announcing the hire of Assistant Coach Amorrow Morgan on Monday. FSU continues to wait on the decisions of a few more blue-chip players.

I'm not a huge basketball fan, but I must say I'm excited to see what Luke Loucks can do in year one.