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FSU hoops got some much-needed good news last week when redshirt junior Jamir Watkins announced that he withdrew his name from the portal and is returning to FSU for another season. Watkins had also previously declared for the NBA draft before testing the transfer waters. He was previously ranked as the number one player available in the portal, so this is massive news for the Noles during an off-season that hasn’t had much to be excited about. After finishing a dismal 17-16 in 2024, what felt like the entire team entered the transfer portal.
Ladies and Gents he's back‼️😈 pic.twitter.com/ufDQcmZtf4
— Florida State Men’s Basketball (@FSUHoops) June 7, 2024
Primo Spears, Jalen Warley, Baba Miller, Cam’Ron Fletcher, Cam Corhen, De’Ante Green, and Tom House all transferred out, leaving only Chandler Jackson and Taylor Bol Bowen from last year’s roster to build from. Getting Watkins back will be a big boost as he was the Seminoles’ best player in 2023. Watkins led the team in scoring (15.6 PPG), rebounds (6 P/G), and steals (1.9 P/G). He was also tied with Jalen Warley as the leader in assists with an average of 2.8 per game. Watkins, who transferred in from VCU, earned an All-ACC honorable mention in 2024.
He’ll be joined by transfers Justin Thomas (UTSA), Jerry Deng (Hampton), Malique Eqin (No. 1 JUCO prospect from South Plains College), and Bostyn Holt (South Dakota). The Noles also added Daquan Davis (4-star), AJ Swinton (3-star), and Christian Nitu (4-star) from the high school ranks as they look to fill out their roster for what many believe to be one final run for head coach Leonard Hamilton who enters the final year of his current contract.
The Seminoles have gone a disappointing 43-51 over the past three seasons. However, Watkins’ return gives FSU an experienced two-way player who is familiar with the system and can be a leader this upcoming season. Watkins tallied five double-doubles last year including a monster 34-point game against Virginia Tech. We’re excited to have Jamir back in Tallahassee for another season! Thanks for reading and Go Noles!
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