The reason for Florida State's NBA draft success

Since the 2017 NBA draft, Kentucky and Duke have produced the most draft picks of any college basketball program. Right behind the two big-time powerhouses is an unlikely program when you think of basketball — the Florida State Seminoles.

Over the past five drafts, the Seminoles and coach Leonard Hamilton have produced nine picks.

Why Florida State players fit in the NBA

Hamilton runs a system based around attacking in transition, catch and shoot and pick and roll plays on the offensive side. His defense requires long athletes who can run, trap, and press the majority of the game.

Florida State switches everything on defense, requiring every player to guard 1-5 positions. Through his playstyle, teachings and coaching, Hamilton helped evolve the game of nine players since 2017.

” If you give this system an opportunity and the time that it takes, it will work,” Hamilton said.

Listed below are the former Florida State players drafted and their respective year and pick:

2017 NBA Draft

Round 1, pick 6: Jonathan Isaac
Round 2, pick 40: Dwayne Bacon

2019 NBA Draft

Round 1, pick 27: Mfiondu Kabengele
Round 2, pick 48: Terance Mann

2020 NBA Draft

Round 1, pick 4: Patrick Williams
Round 1, pick 11: Devin Vassell

2021 NBA Draft

Round 1, pick 4: Scottie Barnes
Round 2, pick 57: Balsa Koprivica
Round 2, pick 59: RaiQuan Gray

Will Florida State trend continue this season?

As we head into the 2021-2022 season, Hamilton and Florida State bring in four more potential future draft picks.

Ranking eighth in the nation for recruiting this off-season, the Seminoles are bringing in five-star shooting guard Matthew Cleveland out of Pace Academy, four-star combo guard Jalen Warley and four-star center John Butler.

These three freshmen come in with a stacked veteran squad who will show them how to thrive in Hamilton’s system. Next year’s draft will be another possibility to add to the Seminoles NBA alumni list.