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NCAA basketball power rankings: Way-too-early college basketball Top 10 for 2021-2022

By Mike Phillips

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

7. NCAA Basketball Rankings: Florida State Seminoles

If there’s one trend that has emerged over the years in the ACC it is that Florida State doesn’t get enough respect for the program they have built. Head coach Leonard Hamilton has guided the Seminoles to at least the Sweet 16 in each of the past three NCAA Tournaments, a product of shrewd team-building.

Florida State has produced five NBA first-round picks since 2016, including a trio of lottery picks, a run that should be extended once Scottie Barnes goes pro. The losses of M.J. Walker and RayQuan Evans will also hurt but the Seminoles are projected to return six key rotation players, headlined by their second-leading scorer in RaiQuan Gray.

Hamilton has also built a solid recruiting class featuring three ESPN 100 prospects, with the headliner being small forward Matt Cleveland. Another intriguing player in the class is 7-foot-3 center Naheem McLeod, a junior college transfer who could be an impact player in the paint.

This team has a chance to be really good but could have a chance to be dominant if Florida State can land an impact point guard in the transfer portal. Solving the Seminoles’ questionable situation at the point could really raise the ceiling for Florida State next season.