Roster Overhaul: Coach Luke Loucks makes his first moves as the new FSU Basketball Coach

     

The transfer portal for college basketball officially opened on Monday, March 24, which means coaches and players are scrambling to make contacts. 

    Florida State's new basketball coach, Luke Loucks, has also entered the Wild West of the transfer portal. This is necessary for Coach Loucks to build his new roster, as five Seminoles have already left last season's team.

    Two of the more notable transfers are guard Chandler Jackson and forward Taylor Bol Bowen. Jackson finished the 2024-2025 season with a career-high 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and was tied for first on the team in steals (38). Jackson started in 27 games but was a consistent offensive player who brought a proper understanding of the FSU culture to the team. 

  Taylor Bol Bowen was a key contributor to last season's FSU team. He was easily FSU’s top three-point shooter, making 41.4% of his attempts from beyond the arc. Bowen's offensive skills significantly improved compared to previous seasons, highlighted by a career-high 20-point performance against Georgia Tech in January. His shot-blocking ability, combined with his offensive growth, made him a crucial factor in the team's 17 wins. Overall, Bowen averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and led the team with 1.5 blocks per game.

    So now the big question is, what's next? Here is a rundown of some of the names that I think FSU should really go after in the transfer portal. 

OFFERED

F, Isaac Garrett - Snow College Badgers

    The first official offer of the Luke Loucks era goes to a JUCO transfer in Isaac Garrett. Garrett was a part of a Snow College team that finished the season 32-2 and undefeated in conference play, which included a 25-game win streak. In his sophomore season, Garrett averaged 14.0 points (2nd on the team) on 53% shooting, 7.0 rebounds (1st on the team), and totaled 40 blocks throughout the season (most on the team).

    I can see Garrett fitting into Bol Bowen's place defensively. Garrett stands at 6-foot-9 but has a huge wingspan of 6-foot-11. This length is something that we have seen in past FSU teams under Hamilton and possibly something Coach Loucks will continue to bring to the team. 

    His one true weakness is outside shooting. Garrett attempted 70 threes last season and only converted 10 of them (20%). 

Contacted

G, Kobe MaGee - Drexel

    One player that has been contacted by FSU is Drexel guard Kobe MaGee. MaGee would be entering his senior season next year and would bring some great experience to the Noles. MaGee led the Dragons last year in points, 13.7, and steals 1.0, and played his way to Third Team All-CAA. It was his first time being named to an all-conference team and he's looking to continue his growth. 

    MaGee is extremely efficient in scoring around the rim. The guard stands at 6-foot-6, which allows him to finish over smaller guards and through taller defenders. When he gets to the cup, MaGee converts 54% of his shots. This height is also something similar to Leonard Hamilton's teams of the past.

    Something that MaGee has to offer that was not seen in last year's squad is his ability to shoot the three-ball. MaGee led the team in three-point percentage last season and is one of the premier three-point shooters in the country. MaGee shot 43.6% from deep last season which is better than any player on this last FSU roster. He's incredibly effective at the catch-and-shoot game, shooting a 68 EFG%. He can make them from the parking lot as well, as he made 20 threes from 25 feet or deeper last season. 

F, Shelton Williams-Dryden - West Georgia

    A forward that FSU has reached out to that really intrigues me is West Georgia's Shelton Williams-Dryden. Williams-Dryden was the leader of last season's UWG team and it showed in the stat sheet. Williams-Dryden finished the season with 6 double-doubles and 

    Williams-Dryden averaged 17.6 points a game which led the team, with 7.5 rebounds, the team's most and third in the ASUN, and 1.2 steals, 13th in the conference. He's not the tallest forward, standing at 6-foot-6 but quick on the ball's defensive side and has solid pressure on the perimeter, a similar defensive style to many Leonard Hamilton players.

    Williams-Dryden is very effective at getting into the paint and finishing around the rim. He finished this past season shooting 51% from the field, and most of his shots came from dribble penetration. 

    He's not the most effective from deep, finishing the season as just a 31% shooting from outside. Williams-Dryden does not take very many, however, only attempting 19 all of last season. 

G, All Wright - Valparaiso

    Wright is another guard who can really space the floor. Wright was a freshman at Valparaiso a season ago and was very good on the offensive end. Wright was part of a Valpo team that made it to the Missouri Valley Conference Semifinal game and was named to the MVC All-Tournament team.

    Wright finished the 2024-2025 season with 15.5 points (second on the team), 2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists (second on the team). Wright was able to put up these numbers on 40% from the field, which was the ninth-best in the conference. 

    What makes Wright such an intriguing player is his shooting ability. Last season, he averaged 5.15 three-point attempts per game, hitting 38% of them. He's able to maintain an efficient shooting percentage while taking a high volume of shots.

    This was evident in his performance in the MVC tournament. In the two games Valpo won, Wright scored 22 and 29 and shot 9/16 from behind the arc between both games. 

Also his name would be just so fun to say.