🏹 April 21st - The Chief Brief 🏹

New Stars, New Targets, and a New Era for FSU Hoops and Football

Author

The Chief
April 21, 2025

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

Which freshman will make the biggest impact for FSU this fall?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend, ‘Nole family! 🌷🐣 

Now it's back to business — and Florida State is making moves. 🚀

In today’s edition:
🏀 FSU Basketball’s new era under Luke Loucks is taking shape fast, with a stacked backcourt and frontcourt pieces ready to roll.
🏈 4⭐️ OT Kamari Blair is visiting Tallahassee as FSU’s 2026 recruiting push heats up.
🌟 Five freshmen turned heads all spring — and some could be future stars.
🚨 Plus: Transfer portal action is ramping up at wide receiver with key targets emerging after a busy week.

The roster rebuild is real — and the summer surge is just getting started. 🌞

Let’s dive into all the action! ⬇️

💤 Melatonin-free sleep! 💤 

All-natural melatonin-free sleep support? Yes, it does exist. Cornbread Hemp formulated their gummies for customers who want to avoid the groggy hangover that they experience after taking melatonin. Instead, their gummies are infused with USDA organic ingredients including full spectrum hemp extract, valerian root, lavender, and chamomile. All-natural and vegan, they're guilt-free to your bedtime routine, so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Slip into bed, feel calm and at ease, knowing that sweet dreams are just a gummy away.

Plus, Cornbread is giving The Chief Brief readers 30% off your first order when you use code RESOLUTION at checkout.*

🏀 FSU Basketball Roster Taking Shape Under Luke Loucks

The new era of Florida State men's basketball is coming into focus — and it's taking serious shape. 🔥

With Friday’s commitment from former UMass Lowell standout Martin Somerville, the Seminoles now have 10 scholarship players locked in for the 2025–26 season — and a promising core is emerging under first-year head coach Luke Loucks.

📋 Projected Backcourt Leaders: 

• Martin Somerville (PG) — 13.6 PPG, 3.7 APG, 40.5% from 3PT, 47 steals
• Robert McCray (SG) — 16.2 PPG at Jacksonville (previously Wake Forest)
• Kobe Magee (SG) — 14.0 PPG at Drexel, 43.7% from 3PT
• Cam Miles (PG, Freshman) — IMG Academy star, ranked No. 24 PG nationally

📋 Frontcourt Strength: 

• Alex Steen (F) — 17.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG (Florida Southern)
• Chauncey Wiggins (F) — 8.3 PPG at Clemson
• Lajae Jones (F) — 10.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG at St. Bonaventure
• Alier Maluk (F/C) — Returning 7-footer, rising sophomore
• AJ Swinton (F) — Athletic sophomore wing
• Thomas Bassong (F, Freshman) — Former Overtime Elite standout

🎯 What's Next: 

Loucks and the staff are expected to prioritize a true center and additional depth pieces over the coming weeks to finalize the roster.

🧱 Bottom Line:

• Strong perimeter shooting ✅
• Experienced scoring punch ✅
• Talented young bigs ✅
• Final pieces still to come ✅

🏈 2026 OL Recruiting Update: 4⭐ OT Kamari Blair Visiting FSU Monday

Florida State is pushing hard to add talent at offensive tackle — and a key new target is headed to Tallahassee. 🚀

Four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair from Clarksville (Tenn.) Kirkwood will make his first-ever visit to FSU on Monday, aiming to build his relationship with Mike Norvell’s staff, particularly offensive line coach Herb Hand.

📋 Quick Profile:
• ⭐ 4-Star OT | No. 282 Overall | No. 26 OT (247Sports Composite)
• 📏 6'6", 280 pounds
• 📍 Official visits already set to Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Georgia Tech in June

🔥 Why It Matters:
• Offensive tackle has been a hard position for FSU to consistently land under Norvell.
• Blair was recently identified as a "prime offer candidate" by Noles247, praised for his frame, physicality, and athletic upside.
• Dane Draper: "Given his rare physical tools and profile as an offensive tackle, Blair could see a dramatic rise in stock during the 2026 cycle."

🧠 247Noles Staff Perspective:
• Hand is emphasizing physicality and athleticism at OL — two traits Blair has in spades.
• Monday’s visit is viewed as a critical opportunity for FSU to emerge as a real contender.

🔥 Five FSU Freshmen Who Stole the Show This Spring

With roster spots up for grabs after a rocky 2024, several early-enrollee freshmen made major moves this spring. 🌟

Here’s a look at the five newcomers who made the biggest impression:

📈 Top Freshman Performers:
• WR Jayvan Boggs (6'1", 204)
 • Former Mr. Football in Florida
 • Elite route-runner and contested-catch machine
 • Pushing for the No. 3 WR spot behind Duce Robinson and Squirrel White

• QB Kevin Sperry (6'1", 212)
 • Dynamic dual-threat from Texas
 • Impressive Tour of Duty and spring camp showing
 • Could see freshman snaps despite Castellanos’ arrival

• DL Darryll Desir (6'5", 261) and DL Mandrell Desir (6'4", 265)
 • Former UCF commits
 • High work ethic and strong 11-on-11 performances
 • Pushing into the defensive line two-deep rotation

• TE Chase Loftin (6'6", 223)
 • Elite athleticism for his size
 • Turned heads during workouts and spring drills
 • Still developing as a blocker but could crack the rotation early

⚡ Honorable Mentions:
• CB Shamar Arnoux
• WR Tae’Shun Gelsey

🚨 WR Transfer Portal Update: FSU Targets Emerging to Rebuild Depth

After seeing three wide receivers — Jordan Scott, Hykeem Williams, and Jalen Brown — depart the program in the past week, Florida State is moving fast to restock the WR room.

While FSU doesn’t plan to replace all three departures with portal additions, they are actively hunting for one or two key pieces — and three major names are now on the board:

📋 New Transfer Targets:

TreyShun Hurry (San Jose State)
 • 6'2", 194 pounds
 • 28 catches for 481 yards and 2 TDs in 2024
 • Previously at Weber State (29 catches, 384 yards in 2023)
 • Offers from BYU, Louisville, USF, Miami, Tennessee, Baylor, and now FSU
 • Two years of eligibility remaining

Gavin Blackwell (North Carolina)
 • 5'11", 185 pounds
 • 18 catches for 239 yards and 1 TD in 2022; 9 catches for 166 yards in 2023
 • Limited to four games last season
 • In early talks with FSU — visit likely soon

Keelon Marion (BYU)
 • 6'0", 195 pounds
 • 24 catches for 346 yards and 1 TD last season
 • Prior two seasons at UConn
 • One year of eligibility left
 • Offers from SMU, Miami, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and others alongside FSU

👀 Other Names to Watch:

Ny Carr (Miami transfer) — Former FSU recruiting target; close friend of current FSU TE Landen Thomas
Trebor Pena (Syracuse transfer) — Explosive playmaker, but rumored to be seeking a major NIL package

🎯 Big Picture:

FSU is taking a patient but aggressive approach — focusing on fit, value, and immediate impact ability to complement Duce Robinson, Squirrel White, and Jayvan Boggs.

And that’s a wrap!

Between roster reloads, rising freshmen, and big portal moves, it’s clear:
Florida State isn’t standing still — it’s building for something big in 2025 and beyond. 🏆

Stay locked in all week — spring portal season is just heating up! 🔥

Until next time... Go Noles! 🍢

How'd we do?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.