Florida State has four seniors with Devon Bookert, Montay Brandon, Michael Ojo, and Boris Bojanovsky, so they will have at least four scholarships available. I think they could end up having two more available because I believe Xavier Rathan-Mayes will go pro next year and possibly Dwayne Bacon as our first one and done depending on how he plays next year. There could also be transfers, so this recruiting class is the most important class in Leonard Hamilton's tenure. If the Seminoles can turn a great recruiting class into an NCAA Tournament appearance while playing in the best conference in college basketball, I believe they could really start to make some noise nationally on the recruiting trail. Below I will discuss the two commitments they currently have, and the other prospects they wish to land.
Trent Forrest, 6-4, 185, Combo Guard
Chipley, Florida
Rankings: ESPN #38, Scout NR, Rivals #82, 247 Sports #48
Committed to Florida State
Trent is a kid from nearby Chipley who has been a lifelong Seminole fan and lucky for us, this kid can play with the best of them. A true combo guard, he is wired to get buckets, but also has the ability to find his teammates for a basket. A fearless finisher who is at his best when attacking the basket, Forrest does an amazing job of getting into the lane and making things happen. He is a good shooter but not a great one, which is an area he can look to improve. Forrest is a big time get for the Noles and he should be able to come in right away and contribute. Look for him to be a big time recruiter for FSU as he plays with two other Seminole targets on his AAU team, the Georgia Stars. I would be shocked if Forrest were to flip his commitment elsewhere.
C.J. Walker, 6-0 170, Point Guard
Indianapolis, Indiana
Rankings: ESPN #82, Scout # 100, Rivals #148, 247 Sports #146
Committed to Florida State
From the videos I have seen of the kid, I find it hard to believe that he is six feet tall, but that made me like him even more. Plus the kid is a lefty, making everything he does ten times cooler. Walker is absolutely fearless when he steps on the court. He is adept at driving in the lane to score or to penetrate and kick to an open teammate. What I like most about him is the intensity that he plays with. I see him energizing the Civic Center with a big three and then following that up with a slap of the floor and the wave of his arms Tim Pickett style. Walker is a true point guard, something FSU for a weird reason consistently refuses to recruit, and comes to FSU with a winning pedigree thanks to his state championship. I really love this pickup by Hamilton and his staff because it seems we have locked up our point guard of the future and he's a guy who lives to make the big play.
Udoka Azubuike, 6-10 280, Center
Originally from Nigeria but plays in Jacksonville, Florida
Rankings: ESPN #19, Scout #31, Rivals #13, 247 Sports #12
Considering: Florida State, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas
Monster. Beast. Grown-Ass Man. That is what Udoka Azubuike is and that is exactly what Florida State needs. The underwhelming careers of Bojo and Ojo end after this season, thus making Udoka the Noles' main target as Hamilton will address the need in the middle. The kid goes by "Doke," so spelling aside, this kid has to play for the Noles. (I understand that he will never play in Doak but he just has to come to Florida State.) The guy is a monster who just wants to dunk on anything and everything. He is huge and will be able to clog up the lane on defense while swatting away/physically eating shot attempts. The kid plays with a lot swagger in the way he walks and talks which I love. We need a big man who won't take crap from anyone, Bernard James-esq, for the Noles to really get back to their junkyard defense ways. Doke will need to develop his skills once he gets to college but he will be an instant impact recruit for the Noles. Hamilton and his staff are up against the big boys for this guy, but they have been recruiting him for a couple years and he plays on the same AAU team as Trent Forrest. Many experts believe there is a good chance he ends up in Tallahassee. If FSU can land him, he should see major minutes early on and provide the Noles with a monster in the middle.
Jonathan Isaac, 6-9 190, Small Forward
Naples, Florida
Rankings: ESPN #12, Scout #14, Rivals #33, 247 Sports #10
Considering: Auburn, LSU, Florida State, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Miami, California, Kentucky, Stanford, Wake Forest, and Virginia
Isaac has blown up over the past few months and luckily for FSU, they saw his potential early on and have a head start on the others. Granted, there is only so much of a head start when you are going against Kentucky on the recruiting trail. The kid has a smooth game and is more of 3/4 at this point, but he will be a 3 in the near future. Isaac has the most potential of any Noles target. He can handle the ball, has a nice looking jump shot, and a great basketball body. Isaac will need to put on some muscle at the next level all while improving his skill set, but the sky is the limit for this kid. Getting him would be a huge statement for the Noles to beat out all these powerhouse programs for Isaac. If he commits to the Noles, he will probably have the most potential of any Florida State basketball player in the history of the program.
Dewan Huell, 6-10 215, Power Forward
Miami, Florida
Rankings: ESPN #18, Scout #21, Rivals #21, 247 Sports #33
Considering: Miami, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Kansas, Notre Dame, South Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, LSU, Maryland
Huell is the new age power forward with his wiry frame, athleticism, and ability to hit the 15-18 foot jump shot. He plays with a tremendous motor, which allows him to get more rebounds, blocked shots, and put back dunks. FSU wants to run up and down the court and force the other team into mistakes on the defensive side of the ball, and Huell would fit perfectly. He will need to get stronger as well as develop his post game, but this kid could be really good player in the near future. FSU is near the top of his list, we have been after him for a couple of years but Huell is a Miami kid and that is who leads the way thus far. A visit to Tallahassee could change that and Huell is definitely someone that Hamilton and company would love to have. I believe the Noles have a real chance at getting him, especially if they can land Doke or Isaac and convince Huell to be apart of a blockbuster class.
Brandon Robinson, 6-5 170, Shooting Guard
Douglasville, Georgia
Rankings: ESPN #76, Scout #69, Rivals #56, 247 Sports #99
Considering: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, Florida
Robinson is yet another Florida State target on the Georgia Stars, but he is probably the least likely to come to Tallahassee with the recent commitment of C.J. Walker. FSU seems to have guards for days and the commitment by Walker only solidifies that idea. The Noles should still pursue Robinson because he has great potential and with the way basketball is played these days, you can never have enough guards. Robinson has great size and feel for the game, a nice jumper, and the potential to be a lock down defender. An area that he will really need to focus on is building his strength because Robinson will not last long if he stays at 170 pounds. He could be a player who improves every year if he decides to come to Tallahassee and suit up for the Noles.
The likelihood of landing all six of these players is very low, but if FSU were to land two of Doke, Isaac, or Huell this would be surefire top 10 recruiting class. This upcoming season is the most important one of the Hamilton era as is this recruiting class. Florida State has a chance to be a consistent threat on the recruiting trail with its improving facilities, college town atmosphere, along with the fact that they play in the country's best conference. The 2015-2016 class has a chance to be really special and these players could help put Florida State on the map year in and year out.
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