Florida State announces Thomas Bassong’s return to the program for the 26-27 season
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 28: Florida State guard Thomas Bassong (3) drives to the basket during the college basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on February 28th, 2026 at Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images In the day and age of the transfer portal, where it seems that every player is on a one-year contract, retention can be just as valuable as incoming transfers. For Florida State and Luke Loucks, they kicked off portal season with a massive keep on Wednesday, as forward Thomas Bassong will be returning to FSU for the 2026-27 season, his sophomore campaign, the school announced in a social media post.
📍 🏠 @guabsom #Connected pic. twitter. com/Inw5iG26o2 — Florida State Men’s Basketball (@FSUHoops) April 8, 2026 Bassong came to Tallahassee as a raw but talented prospect with versatility on both ends of the floor, thanks to his 6’8”, 203-pound frame and 7’3” wingspan.
Over the course of the season, the Frenchman earned the coaching staff’s trust and became a mainstay in the starting lineup midway through the year. Bassong started 16 of FSU’s final 17 games, including the ACC tournament, helping the Seminoles finish the year 11-6 and turn the season around. As mentioned, Bassong’s physical gifts and energy were his calling card during the 2025-26 season, as the freshman ranked third on Florida State in offensive rebounds (43) while averaging almost a steal a game (.
64). His offense improved as the year went on, and Bassong slashed 48/26/54, but finding a consistent offensive game to pair with his ability on the defensive end of the court will be the key to his development. With the portal about to kick into high gear, the Seminoles did an excellent job keeping one of their own and establishing a pillar to their 26-27 roster as they look to add and capitalize on Loucks’ impressive first year.
Bassong’s bio from Seminoles. com ON BASSONG The first high school commitment of the Luke Loucks era at Florida State…a strong dribbler who finishes with authority at the rim and has a strong 3-point shooting stroke…uses his body well as he attacks the offensive and defensive glass making him a substantial rebounder…played for the national team of France in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland…his first international appearance for his home country of France…committed to Head Coach Luke Loucks and his staff after receiving offers from Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount, Mississippi State, Rhode Island, and UCF…his 7-3 wingspan allows him to be a versatile player on both offense and defense…his wingspan helped him become one of the top defenders in OTE during his one season…also gained experience playing for the U18 Zalgiris Kaunas team in the 2024 Adidas Next Generation Tournament. AS A FRESHMAN (2026) Totaled 8 points with 1 rebound and 1 steal in Florida State’s first exhibition game of the season against Alabama (Oct.
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