It took longer than we first thought, but Florida State head basketball coach Luke Loucks got a huge recruiting win on Thursday afternoon when four-star shooting guard Martay Barnes chose the Noles over Auburn. It’s a recruitment that developed quickly over the past few weeks, with Barnes announcing plans to reclassify from 2027 to 2026.
Gods plan 🙏🏽 #Committed pic.twitter.com/x6IG0XvoDI
— Martay barnes (@ROCKOUTMARTAY) February 26, 2026
Barnes took an official visit to Auburn last weekend for their game against Kentucky before taking his official visit to Florida State for their game against the rival Miami Hurricanes.
Barnes was seen dapping some Miami Hurricane players after the game, and some Miami fans thought that might be a sign he was going elsewhere. However, the allure of playing for a coach with NBA ties and an offense that fits guys who can shoot was too much to pass up.
It doesn’t hurt that he gets to stay in-state instead of going over to Alabama.
What this commitment means for FSU basketball
FSU had four players signed in its 2026 recruiting class that ranked No. 11 nationally. FSU beat out teams like Loyola and Purdue for a couple of those blue-chip players. Barnes is the only commit who took an official visit to an SEC school in the recruiting class. The fact that FSU already has two shooting guards and a point guard, and Auburn only had one signee in its 2026 recruiting class, was concerning.
It’s a testament to the work that Luke Loucks has done in a short amount of time at FSU. The way they have performed over the second half of the season has folks believing something big is brewing in Tallahassee. Auburn isn't a powerhouse with Bruce Pearl no longer as the coach, but they still have resources. It's a big win for FSU and Barnes could be a nice piece in the FSU offense that likes to put points on the scoreboard.