No young basketball player can say that they don’t dream of playing in the NBA one day. New Florida State coach Luke Loucks knows this and capitalizes on these dreams, working to form his program into one of the country’s best college-to-pro basketball pipelines.
In his introductory press conference and recent interviews, Loucks shared his vision for transforming Florida State into a premier destination for players with professional aspirations, drawing from his extensive NBA experience to guide prospects toward the next level.
Luke Loucks Working To Make Florida State A Stepping Stone To NBA
During his introductory press conference, new Florida State basketball HC Luke Loucks outlined his philosophy, saying, “Our staff will recruit and fill our roster with competitive, high-IQ, and highly skilled players with professional basketball aspirations.”
“We are going to develop you to make way more money than what you’re going to make with us or anywhere else,” he continued.
His direct, no-nonsense pitch is simple: if young players choose to come to Florida State, they will receive elite coaching and development to help them reach the NBA while also maximizing their earning potential at the collegiate level.
Loucks brings a unique perspective, having worked as a player development coach with NBA championship teams and All-Star players.
“I can promise we’re going to maximize whatever talent you have.”@lukeloucks | @TheAndyKatz pic.twitter.com/i3i2OIraSL
— NABC (@NABC1927) June 23, 2025
The 34-year-old coach’s recruiting philosophy centers on finding the right fit rather than competing in bidding wars.
“My roster construction will be heavily based on roster retention,” Loucks explained. “We are going to develop you to make more money than you’re going to make with us or anywhere else. In the transfer portal, I can watch a game for five minutes to tell me if you can play for me.”
Loucks’ credentials in player development are impressive. During his time with the Golden State Warriors, he worked with perennial All-Stars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.
With the Sacramento Kings, he helped develop players like De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan. Fox directly credits Loucks for his improvement as a three-point shooter.
“I can’t promise you’ll get there, but I can promise nobody in the country can help you the way I can,” Loucks tells recruits, leveraging his experience running NBA draft workouts and developing championship-level talent.
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His coaching philosophy blends NBA analytics with college basketball fundamentals. “If you boil basketball down to the most granular level, it is a game of efficiency and a game of possession. If you win both of those things, you are in a great place,” Loucks said.
Florida State’s 2025-26 schedule includes a high-profile matchup against Dayton on December 16, 2025, at UD Arena, marking the first game of a home-and-home series. The Seminoles and Flyers are tied 3-3 in their historical series, with their last meeting in 1981 ending in a 93-79 Dayton victory.
Loucks expressed enthusiasm about the challenging matchup, noting that playing at UD Arena will provide valuable experience for his team. “Playing Dayton, who was a top-50 team last season, will challenge our team and help prepare us to play in the NCAA Tournament,” said Loucks.
The addition of the Dayton series represents just the beginning of Loucks’ vision for the program. With season tickets for 2025-26 soon available, Florida State fans can expect an exciting brand of basketball that emphasizes both development and winning.
If Loucks continues to leverage his NBA connections and proven track record of player development, the Seminoles could soon establish themselves as one of the premier pathways from college to professional basketball.