FSU basketball: Noles sign Center Alier Maluk

The residents of Tallahassee are preparing for the upcoming football season ahead for their Florida State Seminoles. However, the basketball team just got a steal with the official signing of versatile big man Alier Maluk. Maluk is another key signing that can play a huge role for Florida State this upcoming season. 

It’s safe to say that Maluk was ready to begin his college career right away. Originally scheduled to graduate in 2025, he reclassified to make him a senior this past school year. Maluk was a star at Long Island Lutheran and emerged as one of the best players in the state of New York. According to 24/7 Sports, Maluk is ranked top 10 in New York while being ranked the 28th best center in the country. 

If there’s one word to describe a modern Florida State big man, it’s “versatile”. Recent big men who came out of Florida State have always been a jack of all trades. They can make their presence known defensively while also making an impact on offense. Alier Maluk fits that criteria. After a great conversation with Leonard Hamilton and the coaching staff, Maluk officially became a member of Garnet and Gold. 

So yes, Alier Maluk is not your ordinary center. If he was around a height range of 6’2-6’6, he could be an elite guard/wing. The first thing that stands out for Maluk is his mobility. He has tremendous footwork for a player who is 6’10. As a big man, Maluk is a great player without the basketball as he can cut to the basket and establish himself anywhere on the floor. His mobility and movement make the game easier for his teammates and can provide spacing and open driving lanes on offense. 

As far as floor spacing, Maluk is a tremendous shooter. He always shows to be in sync with the point guard/ball-handler and can find open opportunities from the three-point line. Malik’s floor spacing forces the defense to step out of the paint and open up the inside. With that being said, it allows Maluk’s teammates to attack the inside as well. 

As a defender, Alier Maluk shows his versatility on that end as well. Over the past several seasons, we’ve seen Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton challenge his bigs as being versatile defenders. Not only do they need to protect the paint but also defend outside and use their size as an advantage. Maluk has done that on several occasions during his high school career. While it is difficult to slow down a smaller player, he did a great job of using his length and versatility to prevent easy opportunities. On the interior, Maluk was great at altering shots and crashing the glass as well. 

Maluk’s game is expected to translate to the college level. What better program to start his new journey than with the Florida State Seminoles? Sure, the team has had a rough couple of seasons. Luckily, Maluk is being placed with a head coach who can prepare him for future success. Coach Hamilton and his coaching staff saw something special in Alier Maluk. They know that he can be a generational talent and his game can take him to further heights. As Maluk prepares for his first season at Florida State, expect a huge contribution from him as a freshman.