Former FSU red-shirt guard finds fresh start at Southland program
Maximo Garcia-Plata is heading to Incarnate Word Cardinals after redshirting with the Florida State Seminoles.
The chapter at Florida State has closed for Maximo Garcia-Plata, and the Madrid native has found his next home. The former Seminoles redshirt guard has committed to the University of the Incarnate Word , giving the San Antonio-based program a player with an intriguing international pedigree and untapped potential. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard came to FSU from Madrid, Spain, having been a part of Real Madrid's basketball development system before arriving in Tallahassee.
He played 19 games for Real Madrid's B team in the 2024-25 Tercera FEB league season, averaging 9. 9 points per game while shooting 43. 9% from the field and 31.
2% from three-point range. He also represented Spain on the international stage at the youth level before making the jump to American college basketball. Garcia-Plata signed with Florida State in August of 2025 and ultimately redshirted the 2025-26 season as the Seminoles navigated a guard-heavy roster under first-year head coach Luke Loucks.
His departure was ultimately a product of roster math rather than talent concerns. FSU's staff loved what Garcia-Plata could become, but with multiple guards already in the pipeline, the numbers simply didn't add up for him to stay. He has the positional size coveted in a lead guard and the versatility to play either backcourt spot.