The 3-2-1: Recruiting roll shows FSU Basketball has true staying power

After a string of impressive commitments for the Florida State men's basketball program, it's time for a new edition of the Warchant 3-2-1, where we offer up three observations, ask two questions and make one prediction.

This installment will focus on the Seminoles' recruiting haul, their ability to churn out NBA draft picks and where things might be heading next for Leonard Hamilton's program.

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1 -- The 'New Bloods' aren't going anywhere any time soon

With Tuesday's commitment of four-star South Carolina standout John Butler and Wednesday's re-commitment of 7-foot-3 center Naheem McLeod, the Florida State men's basketball team now boasts the nation's No. 2 recruiting class for 2021. The Seminoles trail only Villanova in the team recruiting rankings, and that's only by a very slim margin.

There was a time when boasting a No. 2 recruiting class would be an astonishing development for FSU basketball, but not anymore. And that speaks to the strength and staying power of the program Leonard Hamilton has built with the help of his assistant coaches and support staff. While they have taken to calling themselves the "New Bloods," not to be confused with college basketball's traditional "blue bloods," there really isn't anything new about FSU's run of success.

We probably shouldn't have to keep reminding ourselves of what the Seminoles have accomplished in recent years, but let's do it at least one more time.

* 2016-17 -- FSU sets a school record with 24 regular-season wins and ties the school record with 12 ACC victories during the regular season. Earns a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

* 2017-18 -- The 'Noles advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in school history and narrowly miss a trip to the Final Four.

* 2018-19 -- Hamilton's team sets a school record with 29 wins and another FSU record with 13 ACC victories in the regular season. Advances to Sweet 16 for second straight season but sees tournament run cut short when two key seniors are knocked out of the lineup.

* 2019-20 -- FSU sets another school record with 26 victories in the regular season. Also wins ACC regular-season championship for first time in school history. Enters postseason with No. 4 national ranking before season is cut short by the coronavirus.

During that time frame, the Seminoles also have produced three NBA first-round picks -- Malik Beasley, Jonathan Isaac and Mfiondu Kabengele -- and a pair of second-rounders in Dwayne Bacon and Terance Mann. They will have two or three more players taken in this year's draft as well (more on that later in this column).

And the Seminoles' 2020-21 team will feature the highest-rated recruit in Hamilton's entire tenure -- Scottie Barnes, a 6-foot-9 freshman who is actually expected to play point guard. While Isaac was the nation's No. 8 prospect in the country coming out of high school (according to Rivals), Barnes checks in at No. 7.

It would have been great to see what Hamilton's squad could have accomplished in this year's NCAA Tournament; many experts believe the Seminoles had a legitimate shot to win it all. But as disappointing as that was for FSU's players, coaches and fans, it's more clear than ever that the Seminoles' window of opportunity isn't closing any time soon.

2 -- Moving past traditional positions

When Butler committed to Florida State on Wednesday, it was only natural that many of us in the media described him as a highly touted "center" prospect. After all, he is 7 feet tall.

But Butler is not at all what we would think of as a traditional center. He doesn't play with his back to the basket. He's not going to bang away against other post players inside the paint. And while he can obviously block shots because of his height and athletic ability, he actually plays more like a wing than anything else.

We've heard FSU sees Butler being used as more of a Jonathan Isaac type. He has the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter, and he has a very nice outside shot. That also explains why the Seminoles were able to bring McLeod back from junior college as part of that 2021 class. He will play more of a traditional center role.

3 -- Assistant coach Steve Smith making an impact

It has been nearly a year since Hamilton hired former Clemson assistant coach Steve Smith to replace Dennis Gates, who left to become head coach at Cleveland State, and Smith is clearly making his mark in recruiting.

Smith was on the Tigers' staff for six years and was considered one of the top recruiters in the ACC, and now the Seminoles are reaping the benefits of his South Carolina connections. Before FSU landed Butler this week out of Greenville, S.C., the 'Noles snared a commitment from four-star guard Bryce McGowens out of Piedmont, S.C.

While Hamilton and assistant coaches Stan Jones and Charlton Young also played a role in those recruitments, Smith's impact should not be overlooked. The hiring of Smith, who once was an assistant under Young at Georgia Southern, was an important move by Hamilton after losing the talented Gates to his first head-coaching gig.

1 -- What positions are left for the 2021 class?

With Barnes expected to be a one-and-done type player, the Seminoles definitely need to add another point guard to this class. According to Rivals' Corey Evans, FSU is in the running for four-star Jalen Warley out of Pennsylvania.

At 6-5, Warley would be a perfect fit for FSU's system, but the 'Noles will have to beat out Virginia, Michigan, Oregon and others. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the 'Noles add another wing or post for this class as well.

2 -- Is this the best run of NBA talent in school history?

As we mentioned earlier, FSU has produced five first- or second-round NBA Draft picks over the last four years. And there's a legitimate chance that the 'Noles will have three more players selected in this year's draft, which will be held in October.

Guard Devin Vassell is projected to be a top-5 or top-10 pick, and forward Patrick Williams has been mentioned as a top-10 candidate as well. Point guard Trent Forrest is more likely to be selected in the second round.

Barring anything unforeseen, Vassell and Williams will be the first FSU tandem to be selected in the NBA's first round since 1993, when Doug Edwards went No. 15 overall and Sam Cassell was selected at No. 24. It will mark the second time it has happened in program history.

And if Forrest is selected as well, the Seminoles will have a grand total of eight draft picks in five years. Whether that five-year total ends up being seven or eight draft picks, it will be the best run of NBA production for FSU since the draft was reduced to two rounds in 1989.

Florida State has been recruiting an exceptionally high level for several years now, but this class could be the best of the bunch -- at least from a ratings standpoint.

FSU's 2016 class, which featured Isaac, Forrest, Kabengele, C.J. Walker, P.J. Savoy and Braian Angola-Rodas, might be the best of Hamilton's tenure so far. Isaac was a five-star recruit, Forrest was a four-star, and while the others were not as highly regarded, they all proved to be substantial contributors. Isaac and Kabengele both became first-round draft picks.

The 2015 class was also loaded, featuring five-star Dwayne Bacon and a pair of four-star recruits in Malik Beasley and Terance Mann. Three-stars Christ Koumadje and Benji Bell rounded out that class.

But this 2021 class already features three of the top 65 players in the country -- Matthew Cleveland (No. 25), Bryce McGowens (No. 37) and John Butler (No. 63) -- and there's a chance the Seminoles land one or two more highly rated players to round out the class.

As he approaches the final years of his coaching career, Hamilton clearly has found the winning trifecta -- the Seminoles' style of play is very attractive, they have become a consistent power in the ACC, and they are sending a steady stream of players to the NBA. There's no reason to believe things will slow down any time soon.

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