Center Naheem McLeod Enters Transfer Portal After Two Seasons with the Seminoles

The roster renovations continue in Tallahassee with the departure of a big man.

Florida State center Naheem McLeod has entered the transfer portal. The 7’4” product of Plymouth Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, played two seasons at FSU with career averages of 4.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 0.8 BPG in a little over 12 minutes per game and 16 total starts.

READ MORE: Seminoles Add Veteran Assistant Coach Kevin Nickelberry to Leonard Hamilton's Staff

Originally a member of the 2019 recruiting class, some academic issues forced him to take a year off of college entirely before playing JUCO for the 2020-21 season. He’ll have two seasons of eligibility left wherever he decides to continue his career.

Florida State big man Naheem McLeod is entering the transfer portal, a source tells me.

McLeod just finished his sophomore season as a Seminole after spending two seasons in Tallahassee. Native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Averaged 3.8PPG, 2.7RPG and 1.2BPG this season. pic.twitter.com/sCKtVN1LMT

— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) April 19, 2023

The idea of a 7-footer like McLeod is a great one, as he has pretty good feet for his size and has had a couple of big games, like his 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks against Syracuse this season. Most of the time, though, he couldn’t handle most passes, had an infatuation with layups and baby hooks over dunks, and would get caught out of position defensively trying to chase blocks. He never seemed to take things seriously enough for what this program needed, and they probably needed to move away from the bigger, trodding centers if Coach Hamilton wants to continue switching everything defensively. 

There is a case to be made if McLeod didn’t break his hand at Clemson last year, he could’ve been much better for this team. He was making tremendous strides in ACC play before that broken hand cost him the rest of the 2021-22 season. 

For a team coming off of a 9-23 season, changes were definitely coming. He joins Matthew Cleveland and Caleb Mills (who has since gone on to join Memphis) in the transfer portal. Florida State has landed two transfers since former La Salle guard Josh Nickelberry and former VCU forward Jamir Watkins. I expect another move or two to follow shortly, with the NCAA transfer window closing. 

READ MORE: Florida State Basketball Officially Announces Additions of Two Transfers

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