Florida State’s offseason shake-up continues. After 23 years in Tallahassee, Leonard Hamilton has stepped down, with former player Luke Loucks taking over as head coach. Coaching changes often lead to roster turnover, and that’s the case here, as one of FSU’s top players has entered the transfer portal.
Star center Malique Ewin is on the move after an impressive 2024-25 season, where he led the Seminoles with 14.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.7 APG. He also topped the ACC in field goal percentage at 59.6%. Known for his passing and ball-handling skills, Ewin was a unique offensive weapon at the center position. However, his defensive struggles were evident, and FSU’s switching scheme did little to cover for his lapses in focus.
READ MORE: BREAKING: FSU Basketball lands high-level wing in transfer portal
Malique Ewin becomes the ninth Seminole to enter the transfer portal, joining Taylor Bol Bowen, Chandler Jackson, Justin Thomas, Daquan Davis, Anastasios Rozakeas, Christian Nitu, Jerry Deng, and Waka Mbatch. Ewin, a versatile player with immense potential, could thrive under Luke Loucks, who has NBA experience working with bigs like Draymond Green and Domantas Sabonis—players known for frequently handling the ball. While Sabonis, a multiple-time All-Star, has proven to be the superior offensive player, Loucks’ pedigree should have benefited Ewin’s development. Nonetheless, Ewin is likely to be one of the most in-demand players in the transfer portal.
This marks Loucks’ first time navigating the transfer portal as a head coach, given that this is his debut season in college basketball. His strategy for replacing Ewin will be closely watched. While he’s already secured transfers in Kobe MaGee and LaJae Jones, the market for bigs remains somewhat thin.
Ewin’s journey at Florida State began this season after a standout start at Ole Miss as a blue-chip recruit before transferring to junior college. As the top-rated JUCO prospect, he chose FSU, and his performance exceeded many expectations. He was instrumental in securing wins for the Seminoles but also played a role in some losses due to fouling out or injury.
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