Florida State basketball received a major boost to its front court just two weeks before the start of the regular season.
Veteran forward Alex Steen has been cleared to return for a fifth college season after Leon County Circuit Judge David Frank granted him a temporary injunction, according to Chris Nee of Noles247, allowing Steen to play for the Seminoles during the 2026-27 season. Steen had previously been denied an injunction in September while challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules.
Steen remained around the program throughout the process. He was enrolled at Florida State and practicing with the team, and he was also on the Seminoles’ bench during their 82-71 exhibition victory over the Auburn Tigers despite being unable to play while his
status remained unresolved.
His return gives Luke Loucks another experienced piece for a roster already built around unusual size and versatility.
The 6-foot-9 forward started 29 games for FSU last season, averaging 6.8 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds. Before arriving in Tallahassee, he spent three seasons at Division II Florida Southern, where he twice earned Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
More importantly, he adds another option to a frontcourt that already includes 7-foot freshman Marcis Ponder, 6-foot-10 Cooper Schwieger, and 6-foot-11 Sebastian Rancik.
Loucks has talked throughout the preseason about experimenting with exceptionally large lineups. At one point, FSU put a group on the floor measuring 6-foot-7, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-11, 6-foot-10, and 7-foot, with four of the five players capable of handling, passing, and shooting from the perimeter. Steen’s return gives Loucks even more flexibility to play big without sacrificing experience or mobility.
That depth could become particularly important considering what awaits Florida State.
The Seminoles are scheduled to face seven different teams ranked inside the preseason AP Top 15: No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 9 Virginia, No. 10 Houston, No. 11 Louisville and No. 14 Miami. FSU faces Miami twice, meaning the Seminoles currently have eight regular-season games against preseason top-15 opponents.
For a team preparing to navigate that kind of schedule, adding a proven rebounder and returning starter this late in the preseason could be significant.
Steen’s eligibility does more than provide another body in the rotation. It gives Loucks another way to build the oversized, interchangeable lineups he has envisioned for his second season at Florida State.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU gets a major front court boost before season begins
