Florida State men’s basketball enters the offseason with momentum and renewed stability as Luke Loucks begins his second year as head coach, building on an 18–15 season and an aggressive roster overhaul aimed at continuity, size and long-term success.
Loucks leaned on decades-long relationships across the sport and lessons learned during a challenging first year to reshape the Seminoles’ roster. Continuity, he said, is now a priority.
“You see that the best teams do it,” Loucks said. “Our friends down the road in Gainesville have done that at a high level. They kept their team together, and it’s always easier when you have talent and continuity to win at the highest level.”
Florida State wasted little time once the season ended. Loucks and his staff signed 13 newcomers — eight freshmen and five transfers — while also securing at least five multi-year commitments designed to keep the core together.
“I’m a big believer in keeping your word,” Loucks said. “They don’t want to leave here until hopefully they go pro. There are a few guys without multi-year deals yet, but we expect to keep this group together year-over-year.”
Robinson brothers headline class
Among the marquee additions is guard Anthony Robinson II, a Tallahassee native who transferred after three seasons at Missouri. Robinson will reunite with his brother, Amare, creating a hometown storyline that helped seal the deal.
“That was not an easy deal, because Ant’s a really good player,” Loucks said. “A lot of teams were going after him, but we’re super excited to get it done.”
Robinson started 19 games for Missouri and averaged 8.9 points, 3.0 assists and a team-high 1.6 steals per game last season, ranking seventh in the SEC in steals. He earned All-SEC Defensive Team honors in 2024–25.
Loucks views Robinson as an all-conference caliber player and a fitting replacement for departed guard Robert McCray V.
“What a better story than to come back home, play in front of your family and friends and do it with your brother,” Loucks said. “We’re really excited about that.”
FSU basketball adds size, versatility and athleticism
Addressing a lack of size from last season became a focal point of the offseason. Loucks emphasized positional length, basketball IQ and versatility across the roster.
“We want positional size and length — at every position,” Loucks said. “I think we’ll have some of the biggest lineups in the country, maybe even at the NBA level.”
Wings Shon Abaev and Kameron Taylor exemplify that approach. Abaev, a former McDonald’s All-American, arrives after one season at Cincinnati.
“His talent is unbelievable,” Loucks said. “His offensive versatility is off the charts. He can play on or off the ball and create at 6-foot-7.”
Taylor, a 6-foot-7 guard from UNC Asheville, led the Big South with 18.9 points per game and earned first-team all-conference honors. Loucks praised Taylor’s athleticism, citing a 46-inch vertical leap.
“We think he’s a better shooter than his numbers show,” Loucks said. “In our system, his efficiency is going to go up.”
Sebastian Rancik brings NBA potential
Florida State also landed Colorado transfer Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11 forward from Slovakia. Loucks even traveled overseas to establish a relationship with the two-year starter.
What stood out most was Rancik’s defensive intelligence and versatility against elite competition.
“To watch his effort, physicality and speed defensively blew me away,” Loucks said.
Rancik averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds last season, while shooting 86 percent from the free-throw line. Though he plans to test the NBA Draft waters, Loucks supports the process.
“That feedback from NBA GMs is invaluable,” Loucks said. “We fully intend for him to wear a Seminole jersey.”
Moving forward after Thomas Bassong
Not all offseason plans unfolded smoothly. Guard Thomas Bassong departed after contract negotiations failed to reach an agreement before Loucks’ deadline. Bassong is expected to transfer to Mississippi State.
“We wanted Thomas back. He wanted to be back,” Loucks said. “Eventually, I had to move forward to build a team.”
Florida State quickly responded by adding Italian guard Elisee Assui, who initially committed to George Washington. Loucks considers Assui a defensive plug-in capable of filling the void Bassong leaves behind.
“It was unfortunate how it played out,” Loucks said. “But we’re excited about Elisee and the defensive presence he brings.”
With a deeper, longer and more experienced roster, Florida State enters Loucks’ second season positioned for growth rather than rebuilding. After a year spent laying the foundation, Loucks believes the Seminoles are closer to sustained competitiveness.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Luke Loucks leans on relationships to elevate Florida State basketball
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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