Florida State men’s basketball is preparing for its second season under head coach Luke Loucks with a roster that looks significantly different from last season’s.
With only one player who saw non-garbage-time action last season returning, Loucks has brought in six transfers and six freshmen, creating a team with different levels of experience and playing styles.
Alex Steen’s status also remains uncertain as he seeks an additional year of eligibility. Steen has continued practicing with the Seminoles
after his initial request for court relief was denied, with an appeal being considered.
With basketball season just around the corner, let’s meet the team.
No. 0 Martay Barnes — Freshman Guard
Hometown: Palm Bay, Fla.
Barnes comes to Florida State after helping lead the Academy of Central Florida to the 2026 SIAA state championship.
A four-star prospect, Barnes was ranked No. 7 nationally at his position and No. 12 overall in Florida in the 247Sports composite rankings. He averaged 19.0 points, 3.3 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.8 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 Grind Session.
Known for his speed and playmaking ability, Barnes reclassified to the Class of 2026 and committed to FSU in February to join the Seminoles early.
No. 00 Amare Robinson — Sophomore Guard
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
Transfer: Tallahassee State College
Robinson is coming to Florida State after spending his last season at Tallahassee State College, where he appeared in all 30 games with four starts and helped lead the Eagles to the Panhandle Conference regular-season championship.
Before college, Robinson attended Florida State University School, where he was named Defensive Player of the Year three times and helped lead Florida High to the 2022 Class 3A state championship.
He joins his older brother, Anthony Robinson II, who transferred to FSU from Missouri.
No. 1 Shon Abaev — Sophomore Forward
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Transfer: Cincinnati
Abaev joins Florida State after spending his freshman season at Cincinnati, where he appeared in 24 games with 12 starts, averaging 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Before college, Abaev was a five-star prospect and helped lead Calvary Christian to a Class 3A state championship during his senior season. He also participated in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game.
During FSU’s first fall practice, Abaev was limited by a wrist injury. Loucks said X-rays came back negative and expected him to return within a few days to two weeks.
No. 2 Anthony Robinson II — Senior Guard
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
Transfer: Missouri
Robinson brings SEC experience to Florida State after spending three seasons at Missouri. During the 2025-26 season, he appeared in all 33 games with 19 starts, averaging 8.9 points, 3.0 assists and a team-high 1.6 steals per game. He previously earned SEC All-Defensive Team honors following the 2024-25 season.
Before college, Robinson attended Florida High, where he finished his high school career as the winningest boys basketball player in Florida state history.
Robinson also returns to Tallahassee alongside his younger brother, Amare Robinson.
No. 3 Kam Taylor — Junior Guard
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Transfer: UNC Asheville
Taylor comes to Florida State after spending his first two collegiate seasons at UNC Asheville. As a sophomore, he appeared in 32 games with 30 starts, averaging a Big South-leading 18.9 points per game. He also recorded 97 assists, 161 rebounds, 21 blocks and 27 steals while earning first-team All-Big South honors.
Taylor brings experience and playmaking ability to the Seminoles’ backcourt.
No. 5 Collin Paul — Freshman Forward
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Fla.
Paul joins Florida State after helping lead Calvary Christian to a Class 3A state championship. In 2025, he attended the NBPA Top 100 Camp and earned Defensive MVP and first-team all-session honors for Session I of the Under Armour AAU Circuit.
Paul previously played alongside fellow Seminole Shon Abaev at Calvary Christian.
The freshman has been working his way back from an ACL injury. During the team’s first fall practice, Loucks said Paul had experienced some setbacks in his recovery but was participating in 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 work.
No. 7 Jasen Lopez — Sophomore Guard
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Lopez joined Florida State during the spring semester of his freshman year but did not appear in any basketball games.
A two-sport athlete, Lopez was drawn to FSU by the opportunity to play both football and basketball.
On the football field this season, he has seen action against Central Arkansas, Virginia and Louisville, including three catches for 17 yards and nine punt returns for 93 yards.
No. 10 Elisèe Assui — Freshman Guard
Hometown: Varese, Italy
Assui comes to Florida State with international experience after playing for Pallacanestro Varese in Italy’s LBA Serie A.
In 2025, he helped lead Italy to the FIBA U20 EuroBasket championship, recording 17 points and nine rebounds in the gold-medal game victory over Lithuania. He also represented Italy at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket championship.
No. 11 Marcis Ponder — Freshman Center
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Ponder comes to Florida State after helping lead Team Breakdown to back-to-back national championships on the New Balance P32 circuit.
He was selected to play in the 2026 Iverson Classic and Ballislife All-American Game and earned Grind Session All-Defensive Team honors in 2025 and 2026.
Ponder was also named the 2026 Grind Session Defensive Player of the Year and participated in the 2025 NBPA Top 100 Camp and Nike/Slam New York vs. New York game.
No. 14 JD Jones — Freshman Guard
Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
Jones joins Florida State after starting all four years of his high school career.
During his senior season, he was named regional Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year while earning first-team all-conference and all-region honors. He also helped lead his team to the state semifinals.
Jones earned regional Player of the Year honors as a junior and was named Defensive Player of the Year during his sophomore and junior seasons.
His father, James Jones, is a three-time NBA champion and NBA executive, currently working as the league’s executive vice president, head of basketball operations
No. 15 Jalen Crawford — Junior Guard
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
Crawford enters his third season at Florida State after joining the Seminoles as a walk-on ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Last season, he scored six points and made his first collegiate 3-pointer in FSU’s season-opening win against Alcorn State.
Crawford was also named to the 2025 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
No. 19 AJ Swinton — Junior Forward
Hometown: Cabin John, Md.
Swinton enters his third season at Florida State after appearing in 26 games last year, totaling 118 points, 48 rebounds, 25 steals, 13 blocks and 11 assists.
He sustained a torn ACL during FSU’s win at Pitt last season. During the team’s first fall practice, Loucks said Swinton was progressing well in his recovery but that the staff was being cautious with his return.
No. 22 Sebastian Rancik — Junior Forward
Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia
Transfer: Colorado
Rancik joins Florida State after spending two seasons at Colorado, where he appeared in 62 games with 37 starts.
Last season, he started 26 of 29 games and averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He also ranked fourth in the Big 12 with an 86% free-throw percentage.
Rancik finished second on the team in rebounds and blocks and third in points, steals and assists. After dealing with tendinitis over the summer, he returned to full participation ahead of the season.
Rancik also represented Slovakia’s national team over the summer and said Loucks’ positionless style of basketball was a major reason he chose Florida State.
No. 30 Brandon Bass Jr. — Freshman Guard
Hometown: Windermere, Fla.
Bass joins Florida State after playing at Windermere Prep, where he was named the Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year.
He helped lead Windermere Prep to the Class 4A regional semifinals and previously reached the Class 3A state championship game as a sophomore.
In 2025, Bass participated in the NBPA Top 100 Camp, Pangos All-American Camp and 3SSB All-American Camp.
His father, Brandon Bass Sr., was the 2005 SEC Player of the Year at LSU before spending 12 seasons in the NBA.
No. 31 Cooper Schwieger — Senior Forward
Hometown: Overland Park, Kan.
Transfer: Wake Forest
Schwieger joins Florida State after spending his junior season at Wake Forest and his first two collegiate seasons at Valparaiso.
He was named the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and helped lead Valparaiso to the MVC Tournament semifinals during his sophomore season.
Last season at Wake Forest, Schwieger appeared in 34 games with 11 starts, totaling 172 points, 84 rebounds, 31 assists, 20 blocks and 17 steals.
