Six former Florida State basketball players suing Leonard Hamilton over NIL

Six former Florida State basketball players are suing coach Leonard Hamilton over unpaid NIL cash, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed the report.

“In a landmark filing, six former FSU basketball players are suing Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton over $1.5 million in unpaid NIL cash they say he promised them,” Dellenger wrote on Twitter. “The complaint details a team-wide boycott of a practice last season over the payments.”

The six plaintiffs listed — Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green and Jalen Warley — allege Hamilton promised each of them $250,000 in NIL payments from the coach’s “business partners,” per the complaint.

The players never received payments from Hamilton, Florida State or any other party. In fact, several players actually transferred into FSU under the guise they would receive the money.

Within the complaint, there are multiple text message exchanges between players and Hamilton and players and Will Cowen, an executive with one of Florida State’s NIL collectives.

The boycott referenced above happened during a practice before a game against Duke on February 17th. The players walked out of the gym and out of Hamilton’s practice over frustration of unpaid NIL compensation.

Hamilton assured the players they would be paid the following week, per the complaint. Florida State wound up losing to Duke 76-67. Players were worried over taxes, rent and car notes, per the complaint.

In fact, players didn’t want to disappoint Hamilton over NIL dollars but it was hard not to, considering the large sum. None of the six plaintiffs are currently on the team.

Green and Nickleberry no longer have eligibility and the four others transferred out of Florida State.