In today’s world of the transfer portal, when it appears that every player has a one-year contract, retention may be just as important as incoming transfers. Florida State and Luke Loucks began portal season with a major keep on Wednesday, as the school announced in a social media statement that forward Thomas Bassong will return to FSU for the 2026-27 season, his sophomore year.
Bassong arrived in Tallahassee as a raw but gifted prospect with flexibility on both sides of the court, owing to his 6’8″, 203-pound frame and 7’3″ wingspan. Throughout the season, the Frenchman won the coaching staff’s confidence and became a regular in the starting lineup by the season’s midpoint. 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 previously said, Bassong’s physical abilities and enthusiasm were his hallmark during the 2025-26 season, as the rookie finished third on Florida State in offensive rebounds (43) while averaging nearly a steal per game (. 64). His offensive game improved as the year progressed, and he slashed 48/26/54, but discovering a consistent offensive game to complement his defensive talents will be critical to his progress.
The Seminoles performed an outstanding job of retaining one of their own and establishing a foundation for their 26-27 roster, as the portal prepares to kick into high gear and they seek to expand on Loucks’ outstanding first year.
Bassong’s bio from Seminoles. com
ON BASSONG
The first high school pledge of the Luke Loucks era at Florida State… A good dribbler who finishes with authority at the hoop while also possessing a solid 3-point shot. He uses his body properly when attacking the offensive and defensive glass, making him a strong rebounder. Represented France in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Switzerland. His first foreign participation for his native country of France… Committed to head coach Luke Loucks and his crew after receiving offers from Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount, Mississippi State, Rhode Island, and UCF. His 7-3 wingspan makes him a flexible offensive and defensive player. His wingspan contributed to him being one of the top defenders in the OTE during his only season. In the 2024 Adidas Next Generation Tournament, he also played for the U18 Zalgiris Kaunas squad.
AS A FRESHMAN (2026)
In Florida State’s first exhibition game of the season against Alabama, he had eight points, one rebound, and one steal (Oct. 16)… In the Seminoles’ exhibition game victory over Florida A&M, he scored nine points with one rebound in 15 minutes of playing time (Oct. 26)… In Florida State’s season-opening 108-76 win over Alcorn State at the Donald L. Tucker Center, he totaled eight points with five rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals (Nov. 4)…
In Florida State’s 101-64 victory over Alabama State at the Donald L. Tucker Center, he scored eight points on two three-point shots, adding three rebounds and three assists (Nov. 7)… In Florida State’s 89-59 victory over CSU Bakersfield at the Donald L. Tucker Center, he scored five points and had two rebounds and one blocked shot (Nov. 25)…
In the Houston Hoops Showdown against Houston, he made his first career start, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds in 11 minutes of play (Dec. 6)… In Florida State’s 89-59 victory over CSU Bakersfield at the Donald L. Tucker Center, he scored five points, grabbed two rebounds, and blocked one shot (Nov. 25). In Florida State’s 96-49 triumph over Mississippi Valley State at the Donald L. Tucker Center (Dec. 19), he scored 10 points with two rebounds and one steal.
In Florida State’s 87-63 victory over Jacksonville in Tallahassee, he scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the final non-conference game of the regular season (Dec. 22). For the first time, led the Seminoles in scoring with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals versus NC State in Tallahassee (January 10).
As a starter against Syracuse on the road in ACC action (Jan. 13), he had seven points, three rebounds, and one steal… made his second straight start with 11 points and five rebounds against Wake Forest at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee (Jan. 17). In Florida State’s 63-61 victory against Miami in Coral Gables, he had eight points, six rebounds, and two steals (Jan. 20).
In Florida State’s win over Cal in Tallahassee, he had 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and one block (Jan. 28)… A starter with six points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in Florida State’s 88-80 victory over Stanford in Tallahassee (Jan. 31)… In Florida State’s 92-69 triumph over Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum on February 14, he scored eight points with four rebounds. .
In Florida State’s 80-72 come-from-behind triumph over Boston College in Tallahassee, he scored eight points with three rebounds, and two blocked shots (Feb. 17). In Florida State’s 70-65 triumph against No. 24 Clemson on the road in ACC play (Feb. 21), he scored six points with two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot.
During Florida State’s game against Miami at the Donald L. Tucker Center on February 24, he scored seven points with four rebounds and two steals. First career double-double, with 14 points and 12 rebounds, in Florida State’s 80-71 victory against Georgia Tech at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta (Feb. 28).
In Florida State’s 75-74 win over Pitt at the Peterson Events Center on the road in ACC play (March 4), he had eight points, eight rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot. In Florida State’s 95-89 victory over Cal in the second round of the ACC Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte (March 11), he scored eight points, grabbed two rebounds, and blocked two shots.
FIBA U19 World Cup, Summer 2025
Made his debut for his native country of France at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Switzerland during the summer of 2025. In seven games, he averaged 3. 3 points, 2. 3 rebounds, and 0. 9 assists while playing 11. 2 minutes each game. In a 75-50 tournament opening triumph over Cameroon (June 28), he scored two points with three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
In France’s 108-77 defeat to the United States, the eventual tournament champions, he scored four points with two rebounds in 12 minutes of action (June 29). In a 71-63 victory for Australia against France (July 1), he had four points, one rebound, and one assist in 11 minutes of play. In an 86-79 defeat by France in the tournament round of 16 (July 2), he earned two minutes of playing time for France. In a 86-75 victory for France over China (July 4), he scored two points with two rebounds in four minutes of play.
His most productive game was a 76-71 victory for France over Mali (July 5), in which he scored 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal in 16 minutes of playing time. In a 96-93 defeat to Serbia on July 6, he scored five points on three of four made free throws, with four rebounds, two assists, and one blocked shot.
BEFORE FLORIDA STATE
Averaged 15. 6 points, 4. 3 rebounds, 1. 7 assists, and 1. 2 steals in 15. 6 minutes each game. The Jelly Fam team will feature him in the 2024-25 season. Scored in double digits in 16 of 20 games in 2025, with a 25-point scoring game against the Cold Hearts, a 24-point performance against the Diamond Doves, and a 23-point scoring outburst against the Blue Checks.
Double figures in rebounding, with four double-doubles, including 13 rebounds against the City Reapers. Twice he recorded double-doubles against Fear of God Athletics (20 points and 11 rebounds), Cold Hearts (21 points and 11 rebounds), City Reapers (10 points and 13 rebounds), and the City Reapers for a second time (14 points and 10 rebounds).
In his last three games of the season, he averaged 22. 3 points per game, ending the season on fire. Named to the 2025 All-OTE team as the Jelly Fam team’s MVP… Also a finalist for the OTE Defensive Player of the Year honor… During his one year with OTE, he was frequently tasked with guarding the opponent’s top scoring threat. Named an excellent eye-catcher at the 2024 Jordan Holiday Classic… During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 17. 0 points and 2. 0 rebounds in two playoff games for OTE.
PERSONAL
Born on July 12, 2006… Thomas is the son of Jeanne Marlyse Bassong. His mother is a high school maths teacher. Major is exploratory.
