Florida State has missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, but that hasn’t stopped preseason expectations from being as high as they’ve been in a long time.
Redshirt sophomore Xavier Rathan-Mayes was named preseason All-ACC on Wednesday and headlines the squad after averaging nearly 15 points and more than four assists, but Rathan-Mayes is joined by five very experienced seniors and a quartet of freshmen that is perhaps the most promising in FSU history.
“We know we have a lot of guys who have competed on this level,” said senior forward Montay Brandon at Wednesday’s ACC media day. “We’ve been able to help groom (the freshman) and get them ready for this upcoming year.”
Along with Brandon, guard Devon Bookert and centers Boris Bojanovsky and Michael Ojo are all entering their senior year. Brandon and Bookert each averaged in double-figures scoring last year and Brandon led the team by averaging 5.5 rebounds. Bojanovsky, the tallest player in FSU history at 7’3″, led the Seminoles in blocked shots and field goal percentage.
“With the guys we have coming in and our returners, I think we definitely have a special team,” Rathan-Mayes said Wednesday. “We want to send our seniors off on the right note.”
Headlining head coach Leonard Hamilton’s freshman class is McDonald’s All-American slasher Dwayne Bacon. Joining Bacon in the class is fellow swingman Terance Mann and guard Malik Beasley. All three were top 100 national prospects, according to Rivals.
“Those three young guys have come in and they’ve worked hard,” Brandon said. “We feel like we have a very good opportunity to win the league.”
The fourth member of the FSU recruiting class is 7’4″ Jean Marc Christ Koumadje, who is considered a project player. Once Koumadje steps on the court, he will become the tallest player ever to play for the Seminoles.
Florida State finished just 17-16 last season and had its first losing season in ACC play since the 2007-08 season, going 8-10 in conference play. Still, the excitement for basketball season is alive and well in Tallahassee.
“We can definitely feel the excitement,” Brandon said. “I know we’re known more as a football school, but even around campus, the fans in Tallahassee are excited and they’re talking about basketball.”
After being ruled academically ineligible for the 2013-14 season, Rathan-Mayes had a breakout year for the Seminoles last season. The redshirt sophomore said Wednesday that he spent the most time this offseason improving his shooting and will look to make his teammates better.
“Our goal is to win a trophy,” Rathan-Mayes said Wednesday. “I don’t think it would be a disappointment not to win one, but those are our expectations. I definitely feel like we can do it.”
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