Reason has won out. Florida State men’s basketball center Alex Steen was awarded an injunction upon appeal which will make him eligible for the 2026-27 season, Leon County Judge David Frank announced Monday afternoon.
Steen, who never redshirted in his first three years of college at the Division II level before arriving at FSU ahead of the 2025-26 season, was a slam dunk case for a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility model.
And yet, his lawsuit was initially denied
on Sept. 10 before the decision was reversed upon appeal Monday, making him eligible for the upcoming season.
It’s a major boost to Florida State’s frontcourt. Steen, who has been around the team and practicing throughout the preseason, averaged 6.8 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game last season for the Seminoles.
His addition, after FSU coach Luke Loucks advocated furiously for Steen on social media and in press conference settings, gives the Seminoles a second strong center option alongside 7-foot freshman Marcis Ponder, who paired 13 points with 21 rebounds (12 offensive) in the Seminoles’ exhibition win over Auburn last Wednesday.
That also likely keeps 6-foot-11 Colorado transfer Sebastian Rancik or 6-foot-10 Wake Forest transfer Cooper Schwieger from needing to step into the center role at moments, keeping them in forward roles.
