By Kenneth Cross
Florida State basketball has made an unprecedented rise atop the ACC and national level in the stellar 22-year career of Coach Leonard Hamilton. However, in the last two seasons, injuries have been a detriment in allowing the ‘Noles to finish strong.
Last season, Chandler Jackson and Cam’Ron Fletcher were shelved with season-ending injuries while Baba Miller was suspended for 16 games in a ridiculous move by the NCAA after his family repaid money that was used for him to come to the United States from Spain to take part in a training camp. It was an unjust matter as the NCAA used such a repugnant act against an athlete, his family and team, and FSU since NIL came in as a legal entity for allowing players to obtain money or possessions.
Darin Green, Jr., comes back as the key shooter in what should be another solid FSU offense if the Seminoles just stay healthy. Green moved over from UCF after three years as a Knight and he was one of three ACC players who made over 90 three-point shots last season. He made a career-high of 91 while taking 250 triples in his 390 field goal attempts.
“If he can see the orange on the rim, if he can see the orange on the goal, as far as I’m concerned, he can shoot it,” said FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton.
Green has shown that he can get in a rhythm and torch defenses after he made 7-of-9 triples in scoring 24 against Troy. He even topped that with 8-of-11 threes although the Seminoles lost to St. John’s, 93-79, where he scored a career-high of 30 points.
“He’s improved other areas of his game,” said Hamilton. “I think that he has learned to improve his mid-range game. I think that he is taking the ball to the basket a little bit better because we have insisted that he take advantage of all of his skills.”
Green is popular as a leader on and off the floor for this tight-knit Seminoles squad.
“DG is a big brother to all of us,” said Miller. “He’s got the experience in college basketball so he can lead us on the court and off it.”
Hamilton talked about how Florida State struggled on the perimeter last season as they made only 6.8 threes per game and shot just 33 percent from three. The lack of shooting beside of Green allowed defenses to contain him more and it caused him not to be able to even find spots in the offense where he would be shooting consistently or able to find a place to score from.
“People would load up on him, and I wish we would have shot the ball a lot better,” explained Hamilton. “This year he has some complementary guys around him that can shoot the ball.”
Hamilton has added some solid shooters who will be able to set up the team on the perimeter which will allow Green to have more room with which to operate. Point guard Primo Spears transferred in from Georgetown as he led the Hoyas in scoring at 16 points per game and he was tough off the dribble in passing out 5.3 assists per outing.
LaSalle transfer Josh Nickelberry shot 40.1 percent from three a year ago as he was able to find 5.8 three-point shots per game. Jamir Watkins comes over from VCU where he was a 6-7 forward with solid length and running ability.
“We’ve got our depth back and we can sustain our energy for 40 minutes like we have been accustomed to,” commented Hamilton.