The Florida State men’s basketball team announced the signing of three prospects on Wednesday: Brandon Bass, Colin Paul and Marcis Ponder. Below is bio information and quotes provided by FSU sports information.
Brandon Bass
Brandon Bass Jr. (Windermere Preparatory School/Austin Rivers SE Elite), a four-star recruit, averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals as a junior. Bass Jr. (pictured above) set the Windermere Prep school record for most points scored in a game, 43, during the 2024-25 season.
Bass Jr. (6-5, 190) played in the NBPA Top 100 Camp in the summer of 2025. He played in the invitation only 2025 Pangos All-American Camp and the 3SSB circuit All-American Camp in 2025. He average 13.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on the 3SSB AAU circuit.
“I chose Coach Loucks and Florida State because it felt like family from the start,” said Bass Jr. “Coach Loucks believes in developing players on and off the court, and that really stood out to me. The culture, the energy, and the vision he has for the program match exactly what I want to be a part of. I know FSU is the place that’s going to push me to reach my full potential.”
Basketball runs in Brandon’s family, as his dad, Brandon Bass Sr., played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
“Brandon Bass Jr. is one of the best shooters in high school basketball in America,” said Loucks. “He fits what we’re building at Florida State perfectly. He is a true competitor, has a ton of skill, and makes winning plays consistently. As the son of a very successful NBA player, Brandon understands the work, grit, determination, and resiliency that it takes to succeed at the highest levels of basketball.
“We are thrilled to add Brandon to our program. He will have an immediate impact on our perimeter shooting and his positional size and length will allow him to contribute to winning on both sides of the ball.”
Collin Paul
Collin Paul (Calvary Christian Academy/SOH Elite) is a 4-star recruit. He averaged 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals during his junior season at Calvary Christian Academy. Playing with SOH Elite this spring, Paul averaged 16.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocked shots on the Under Armour AAU Circuit. During the 2025 UAA Session I, Paul was a standout as he was named as the Defensive MVP and to the All Session I First-Team.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Paul played in the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in the summer of 2025.
“Collin Paul is one of the most versatile players in high school basketball with his ability to dribble, pass and shoot,” Loucks. “He can attack the paint and make great decisions with the basketball as a facilitator. He is an underrated defender that can guard multiple positions and disrupt. He fits our playing style with the combination of positional size, length, and skill.
“Collin is recovering from an ACL injury. We are pleased with his progress and look forward to him getting back on the court to represent the Garnet and Gold.”
The culture surrounding the FSU program combined with the staff’s NBA experience made an impact on Paul’s commitment.
“I truly believed that Coach Loucks and Florida State could offer me a better opportunity to grow as a player, compete at the highest level of college basketball, and hopefully make it to the NBA,” said Paul. “I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact Coach Loucks has had on his players, which makes me even more eager to learn from and play under him. Because of this, choosing Florida State is the right decision for me.”
Marcis Ponder
Ponder (7-0, 285) averaged 9.8 points and 9.6 rebounds , and 2.0 blocks while shooting .500 percent from the field as a junior at West Oaks Academy during his junior season.
"I want to give thanks to my mom and Coach Jonathan Gajardo (JP) because I know without them I wouldn't be the man I am today," said Ponder. "Thanks to Coach JP for the countless days in the gym perfecting my craft to be the best Marcis Ponder I can be. This day has come and I am proud and excited to be a Seminole. Florida State has always been my dream school."
Ponder, a four star recruit, played in the 2025 Nike/Slam New York vs. New York game and in the NBPA Top 100 Camp during the summer of 2025. Ponder was the MVP of the Grind Session All-Star game in 2025. He led Team Breakdown to back-to-back national championship on the New Balance P32 circuit.
"Marcis Ponder was our first commitment in the 2026 class and was a priority for our staff from day one on the job," Loucks said. "He is one of the best center prospects in America and will make an immediate impact on our program. Marcis has an incredible mix of size, strength, and competitive fire.
"We are excited about his ability to patrol the paint on both sides of the ball and physically impact games the day he steps on campus."
