Seeing NBA players back in Florida State’s Basketball Training Center is a welcome sight. Seeing the likes of Devin Vassell, Terance Mann, Trent Forrest and Patrick Williams put FSU T-shirts on and compete against members of the 2026-27 team in pickup games made for a fun Friday and Saturday.
FSU coach Luke Loucks organized the reunion, bringing back a large group of FSU alumni who are playing in the NBA and overseas for the weekend.
“This program is built on the backs of a lot of players that gave their heart and soul to this university,” said Loucks, who is in his second year at FSU and helped the program win the 2012 ACC Tournament title. “For them to come back and pour into our guys, they want to see us succeed. It’s so special.”
Beyond the NBA players, recent FSU grads like RaiQuan Gray and Mfiondu Kabengele joined in with current assistants like CJ Walker and Justin Lindner in full-court and half-court pickup games. Even Sardaar Calhoun, who spent a year at FSU in 2020-21, returned and lit it up from 3-point range. Current and alumni players gathered at Loucks’ house Friday night and they had lunch after Saturday’s pickup games.
There were times when a few of the pro players isolated and went one-on-one, just like the good ol’ days at the BTC. But the teams were structured so that the pro players could play with and instruct the current players.
“We’ve been bumping against each other all summer,” Loucks said. “Eventually, no matter how competitive you are, it becomes a little repetitive. You’re bumping against the same guys for six, eight weeks straight. Just to have some new blood in the gym has been awesome. These are the guys, they turn on the TV and they’re watching play NBA games. To get to guard those guys and bump against them, it really is priceless.”
Loucks admitted the obvious about the 2026-27 team: It’s a new group with a mix of transfers and high school signees, most of which are new to FSU (aside from AJ Swinton and Jalen Crawford). The goal was to have the pro Seminoles help explain FSU’s culture and connect the recent alumni with the newcomers.
“Hey, these are our people and this is our family,” Loucks explained.
It’s the type of time on and off the court that Loucks thinks could help the younger players. While Mann serves as an unpaid assistant general manager for FSU, relationships and mentoring opportunities could continue beyond this weekend.
“That was the cool part about yesterday and last night, watching these guys all connect and share phone numbers and (talk) throughout the season,” Loucks said. “It’s not a pressure. But I told the guys, ‘You got a lot of people around the country that are going to be watching and following you.’ But then to have a little bit of a sounding board. When times are great, when times are tough, to bounce some stuff off, outside of just the coaching staff, I think is just so critical for these young men’s success.”
The countdown is on, now 100 days until the 2026-27 season opens.
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