FSU basketball: Top 3 major takeaways from 2024 season

Should Ham be retained? 

To set the stage for this decision, Seminole's head basketball coach Leonard Hamilton, has one year left on his contract with FSU. He has shown that he is not very fond of the modern college basketball landscape, as NIL, transfers, and one-and-done are rampant issues that permeate every program in the country.

I don't know what Hamilton intends, but the rubble resting on the basketball program in Tallahassee would indicate that Hamilton intends to coach with vigor and intensity and not rest on his legacy this year and ride off into the sunset. How the Florida State athletic department responds is still to be determined. 

The past season did show improvement over the year prior, but the team has a record of 26 wins and 39 losses over the past two years. Hamilton's effort to improve the team makes it seem like his desire to coach remains, and he has a chance in this final year to earn another contract. There is also the possibility that Hamilton uses the next season as his curtain call, touring the college arenas, adding to his overall win total whenever he can, and padding a hall-of-fame career.

Right now the program is operating with the intention of Ham remaining until the end of his contract as they have picked up a portal commitment and another new commitment from the high school ranks. Hamilton and his staff are also hosting more prospects to replenish the roster. 

I also do not believe that the school is in a position to invest in the basketball program as there are renovations to the football stadium, and the football facility is under construction at the same time. The Seminoles also invested heavily in head football coach Mike Norvell with a 10 million dollar contract to keep him in Tallahassee while also spending big in an ongoing legal battle with the ACC to see how much of the exit fee FSU must pay.

Pair that with academic buildings under renovation and construction, and there is dust all over Tallahassee holding up a lot of funds that are not permitting FSU to invest in basketball as much as other programs. 

I believe the university is undergoing too much change to sever ties with Leonard Hamilton at this time. Hamilton's success in his career and FSU tenure, he has earned a swan song while helping in the search for his successor. 

The current state of the program is unacceptable, as there are only seven projected scholarship players expected to be on the team at the start of the 2024-25 season. I think fresh blood is needed to revitalize the program, someone who is younger, with more energy, and has found success under the current landscape.

I like the idea of bringing back Coach Charlton Young, but I expect Florida State to do their due diligence and not limit the search for Hamilton's successor to within his coaching tree. 

All stats compiled from 247sports and ESPN.com.