July 19, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - While second-year head coach Leonard Hamilton and his staff is on the road finding future Seminoles, the current Florida State men's basketball players continue to make strides on the court and in the classroom. The team continues its summer work-out regimen inside the state-of-the-art Florida State Basketball Training Facility and continues to prosper in the academic halls all over campus.

PICKETT FENCES ON DEFENSE Senior All-America candidate Tim Pickett enters his senior season looking to become only the sixth player in ACC history to lead the league in steals during multiple years. He led the ACC with a 2.8 steals per game average in 2002-03. Pickett is looking to join all-time ACC steals leader Johnny Rhodes (three times as ACC leader) and Juan Dixon of Maryland, Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues of Wake Forest, Chris Corchiani of NC State and Jim Spanarkel of Duke as the only players to lead the ACC in steals more than once during their careers.

WHODUNIT ON DEFENSE FOR THE SEMINOLES? PROBABLY Tim Pickett Senior All-America candidate Pickett became only the ninth player in ACC history to average 2.8 steals per game or more during the 2002-03 season. He became the first player in conference annals to average 2.8 steals or more per game since Maryland's Steve Francis averaged an 2.8 steals per game during the 1998 season. In addition, Pickett (an All-ACC second-team selection in 2003) enters his senior season looking to become only the 12th player in school history to earn 100 or more steals in two consecutive seasons. The school record for steals in back-to-back seasons in 153 by Sam Cassell during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. Cassell earned All-ACC second team honors during both years for the Seminoles.

PICKETT LOOKING FOR A FIRST IN SEMINOLE HISTORY Senior All-America candidate Tim Pickett earned a team and ACC-leading 82 steals during his junior season. He enters his senior season looking to become the first player in school history with 80 or more steals in consecutive seasons.

PICKETT ON SEMINOLES' ALL-TIME THE SCORING CHARTS Senior All-America candidate Tim Pickett enters his senior looking to become only the 17th player in school history to score 1,000 or more points in only two years. He scored 495 points and was only five points shy or reaching the halfway mark during his first season as a Seminole. Former Seminoles Bob Sura and Douglas Edwards both totaled 1,000 or more points in consecutive seasons twice during their careers in Tallahassee.

JOINER ENJOYS STRONG ALL-AROUND STATISTICAL SEASON IN 2002-03 Three-year starter Michael Joiner returns to play in his final season as a Seminole during the upcoming 2003-04 season. Joiner ranked among the Seminoles' top-five players in five different statistical categories during the 2002-03 season. Joiner finished second in steals (1.4 spg), was third in scoring (8.5 ppg), third in 3-point field goal percentage (.385), fourth in field goal percentage (.485) and fourth in rebounds (4.1 rpg). His career stats are just as impressive with 742 total points, 42 blocked shots, 429 total rebounds and 70 3-point field goals.

JOINER'S NAME BECOMING PROMINENT IN SEMINOLE RECORD BOOK Senior Michael Joiner has been one of the steadiest players for the Seminoles in the last three seasons. Entering his final season in the garnet and gold, Joiner has the chance to etch his name in the Florida State men's basketball record book. Joiner enters the 2003-04 season with 742 career points and needs only 258 points to become the 35th member of Florida State's 1,000-point club. The last player to reach the milestone was Delvon Arrington during the 2001-02 season. He begins his fourth season with 429 career rebounds and needs only 71 to become the 25th member of Florida State's 500-rebound club. The last player to reach the milestone was Corey Louis during the 1998 season. 2003-04 season looking to. Should he reach the 1,000 career point and 500 career rebound milestones, Joiner will become the 13th member of Florida State's prestigious 1,000-point/500-rebound club. The Seminoles' 1,000-point/500 rebound club has not accepted any new members since current Golden State Warrior Bob Sura became a member during the 1995 season. Also members of the club are Dave Cowens, Douglas Edwards and Rodney Dobard.

JOINER COULD BECOME THE FIRST PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY Senior Michael Joiner needs just 258 more points to reach the elite club of 1,000 points per career, eight more blocks to become a member of the 50-career blocks club, 71 rebounds to join the 500 rebounds club and 30 3-point field goals to leave his mark in the 100 3-point field goals made category. If Joiner reaches these milestones, he will be the only player in Florida State history to have scored 1,000 points, pulled down 500 rebounds, made 100 3-point shots and blocked 50 shots during his career at Florida State.

NOTING JOHNSON AND GALLOWAY AT THE POINT GUARD POSITION Entering the 2003-04 season, Florida State is well stocked at the point guard position. Both senior Nate Johnson and sophomore Todd Galloway enjoyed fine seasons in 2002-03 and return to run the point guard position for Leonard Hamilton's second team. Johnson is the undisputed starter but Galloway will also earn time at the position. Many times, Johnson will slide to the two-guard spot while Galloway takes control at the point.

JOHNSON AMONG FLORIDA STATE'S BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFERS Senior point guard Nate Johnson, who committed only 48 turnovers in 894 minutes played during the 2002-03 season has prominently etched his name alongside the top junior college point guard in Seminole men's basketball history. Johnson joined junior college transfers Sam Cassell, Pee Wee Barber and Kerry Thompson as the top junior college transfers who have run the point at Florida State. Johnson averaged a scant 1.6 turnovers per game in 29 games to mark the lowest average among the Seminoles' junior college point guard group.

JOHNSON A THREAT FROM THE 3-POINT LINE Senior point guard Nate Johnson enters the 2003-04 season as one of The Seminoles' top 3-point shooting threats. He finished third among Florida State's regulars with a .357 success rate from long range during the 2002-03 season. He found his stroke over the course of the final 12 games of the season as he made 16 of his final 43 shots from the arc for a .372 shooting percentage. In his last 12 games he made a 19 field goals and committed only 15 turnovers.

GALLOWAY AMONG TOP SEMINOLE FRESHMAN Sophomore point guard Todd Galloway became the fourth freshman in school history to lead the Seminoles in assists with 97 for an average of 3.3 assists per game average during the 2002-03 season. He led the team in assists despite starting only one game. Galloway did, though, play an average of 23.8 minutes per game. Galloway joined former Seminole great Charlie Ward in 1991, Tony William in 1982 and Delvon Arrington in 1999 as players who the Seminoles in assists as freshman.

GALLOWAY ALSO PUTTING POINTS ON THE SCOREBOARD Sophomore point guard Todd Galloway also became the third Seminole freshman in as many years to score at least 200 points and average at least 6.5 points per game last season. Galloway joined Anthony Richardson (2001-02) and Michael Joiner (2000-01) as high-scoring Seminole freshman. Richardson, Joiner and Galloway will all be integral parts of the Seminole machine during the upcoming season.

WALESKOWSKI AND RICHARDSON - A STRONG PAIR Juniors Adam Waleskowski and Anthony Richardson blossomed during the 2002-03 season and are both becoming very good ACC basketball players. The pair will once again earn extended minutes and help the Seminoles in many areas on the court. Waleskowski will attend the Pete Newell Big Man camp in August and Richardson has been among the most consistent Seminoles on the court and in the weight room this summer.

WALESKOWSKI ON THE SEMINOLES' ALL-TIME FREE THROW SHOOTING LISTS Junior forward Adam Waleskowski enters the 2003-04 season ranked fourth in school history with a career .795 mark and has only missed nine free throws during his career. The all-time school record for career free throw shooting is .817 percent by Granville Arnold during the 1983, 1984 and 1985 seasons. Waleskowski missed only three free throws during the entire 2002-03 season. Only two players have shot 80 percent or better from the free throw line during their Seminole careers.

RICHARDSON RANKS AMONG FLORIDA STATE'S BEST PLAYERS AS A SOPHOMORE Displaying his hard working and improvement, junior forward Anthony Richardson finished the 2002-03 season ranked among the Seminoles' top three players in five different categories after ranking in the top five in only three team categories as a freshman. He ranked second on the team in scoring (12.4 ppg), second in rebounding (5.3 rpg), second in free throw percentage (.788), second in blocked shots (1.1 bpg) and third in steals (1.2 spg). He also finished among the ACC's top 20 in five different statistical categories. Richardson finished 17th in the ACC in scoring, 16th in rebounding, eighth in free throw percentage shooting, 10th in blocked shots per game and 12th in offensive rebounds during his sophomore season. He joined Seminole teammate Tim Pickett as the only Florida State players to rank in the top 20 in five or more ACC statistical categories.

RICHARDSON'S SCORING IMPROVEMENT Junior forward Anthony Richardson, who was one of the most improved players in the ACC last season, improved and in some cases doubled his statistical output in 2002-03 as compared to his freshman season. Richardson ranked eighth in the ACC in scoring improvement as he upped his scoring average more than five points per game (12.4-7.2). In addition, Richardson more than doubled his free throws made total (82-38), his blocked shots total (33-15) and his double figure scoring total (21-9) while nearly doubling his field goals made total (134-70). Richardson also improved his field goal shooting percentage to .470 as a sophomore from .332 as a freshman and upped his free throw shooting percentage to .788 as a sophomore from .644 as a freshman.

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE FOR THE SEMINOLES Some of the more amazing statistics for the Seminoles during the 2003-04 season were some of the smaller numbers posted by the individual Florida State players.

3 Forward Adam Waleskowski missed a total of only three free throws during the entire season. The forward shot 76.9 percent from the line to rank third on the team and is a career 79.5 percent shooter from the line.

4 All-America candidate Tim Pickett missed only four free throws in 44 attempts during 16 ACC games as he played his first year in the league. Pickett shot 90.9 percent from the line against ACC competition. Two of Pickett's more important league free throws came in Florida State's victory over Duke in the Civic Center when he hit two with nine seconds remaining to give Florida State a 73-70 in its 75-70 victory.

8 Eight was the total number of points that stood between the Seminoles and victories at home against Florida (one point), on the road against North Carolina (one point), at home against Maryland (two points) and at home against regular season ACC champion Wake Forest (four points).

21 Forward Anthony Richardson recorded 21 blocked shots in ACC play as a sophomore. He blocked a career-high five shots against Georgia Tech on Feb 15 in Florida State's 71-65 victory in the Civic Center. His 21 blocked shots in 16 conference games were more blocked shots than the 15 he had during his entire freshman season.

48 Point guard Nate Johnson committed only 48 turnovers during the entire 2002-03 season. He started all 29 games for the Seminoles and played 894 total minutes. Johnson averaged one turnover every 18.6 minutes. If you look at that closely, he turned the ball over an average of less than one time per half during the entire season.