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Florida State basketball's new era under head coach Luke Loucks reached an early milestone on Wednesday night. Former Seminoles standout Lajae Jones was picked by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, giving Loucks his first NBA Draft pick since taking over the program. Jones elevated his game during the 2025-26 campaign, developing into one of Florida State's most reliable two-way players.
Jones' selection serves as an encouraging sign for a Florida State staff that has emphasized player development and professional preparation since Loucks returned to his alma mater. It also creates an interesting historical parallel within the Florida State program. Loucks, who played four seasons for legendary former head coach Leonard Hamilton, wasted little time producing his first NBA Draft pick as a head coach.
Hamilton, despite going on to build one of the nation's premier player-development programs, did not see his first Seminole selected until his second season in Tallahassee. In the 2004 NBA Draft, guard Tim Pickett was chosen in the second round by the New Orleans Hornets, beginning a remarkable run that eventually produced 19 NBA Draft picks during Hamilton's tenure.
While Loucks is only entering his second season as Florida State's head coach, Jones' selection offers an encouraging sign that the program's reputation for preparing players for the next level remains intact. That reputation became one of the defining characteristics of Hamilton's tenure, with players such as Jonathan Isaac, Patrick Williams, Scottie Barnes, and Devin Vassell all becoming first-round selections.
It's also another positive development during an offseason that has already featured a top-15 recruiting class and renewed optimism surrounding the Seminoles.
For Florida State, Jones' selection extends the program's long-standing NBA pipeline. For Loucks, it marks yet another achievement during his coaching tenure, and one that arrived even earlier than it did for the coach who mentored him.
Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Luke Loucks records first NBA Draft pick as Florida State head coach
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Jones' selection serves as an encouraging sign for a Florida State staff that has emphasized player development and professional preparation since Loucks returned to his alma mater. It also creates an interesting historical parallel within the Florida State program. Loucks, who played four seasons for legendary former head coach Leonard Hamilton, wasted little time producing his first NBA Draft pick as a head coach.
Hamilton, despite going on to build one of the nation's premier player-development programs, did not see his first Seminole selected until his second season in Tallahassee. In the 2004 NBA Draft, guard Tim Pickett was chosen in the second round by the New Orleans Hornets, beginning a remarkable run that eventually produced 19 NBA Draft picks during Hamilton's tenure.
While Loucks is only entering his second season as Florida State's head coach, Jones' selection offers an encouraging sign that the program's reputation for preparing players for the next level remains intact. That reputation became one of the defining characteristics of Hamilton's tenure, with players such as Jonathan Isaac, Patrick Williams, Scottie Barnes, and Devin Vassell all becoming first-round selections.
It's also another positive development during an offseason that has already featured a top-15 recruiting class and renewed optimism surrounding the Seminoles.
For Florida State, Jones' selection extends the program's long-standing NBA pipeline. For Loucks, it marks yet another achievement during his coaching tenure, and one that arrived even earlier than it did for the coach who mentored him.
Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Luke Loucks records first NBA Draft pick as Florida State head coach
Continue reading...
