Seminoles’ Williams, Vassell taken in first round of NBA draft

By Chuck Walsh

Seminoles.com

Patrick Williams, who was named the 2020 ACC Sixth Man of the Year, was selected with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls last Wednesday night.  As the No. 4 overall selection, he tied the school record for highest pick by a Seminole player – Dave Cowens by the Boston Celtics in 1970.

Later in the night, sophomore Devin Vassell, who was a finalist for the 2020 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Awards, became the 11th pick in the first-round by the San Antonio Spurs. Vassell averaged a career-high 12.7 points per game and led the Seminoles in scoring in his second season.

After those two picks, Trent Forest agreed to a free-agent deal with the Utah Jazz.

Williams was just the third one-and-done player in school history following Malik Beasley (2016; Denver Nuggets) and Jonathan Isaac (2017; Orlando Magic) and played just one season at Florida State before embarking on his NBA career.  Williams was named to the 2020 ACC All-Freshman Team as he finished the season as the fourth leading scorer for the Seminoles.  He helped lead the Seminoles to the 2020 ACC Championship with a 26-5 overall record and a 16-4 record in ACC play.

 “I’m excited to be a Chicago Bull,” Williams told seminoles.com.  “They were one of the first teams I worked out for.  Becoming a draft pick means that I have an opportunity; an opportunity that I have to make the most of.”

Williams averaged 9.2 points (fourth among his Seminole teammates), 4.0 rebounds (fourth), 1.1 blocked shots (first) and 1.0 steals (third) as he played in 29 of Florida State’s 31 games in 2020.  

He was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team and as the ACC’s Sixth Man of the Year – making him the second consecutive Seminole to win the award.  Williams ranked as Florida State’s fourth leading scorer despite not starting a single game and ranking fourth in minutes played (22.6) per game.  He led the Seminoles with his .838 shooting mark from the free throw line (62 of 74) and in blocked shots with 30.

 “Patrick’s character, his work ethic and his coachability sets a standard for all young players to emulate,” said Seminole head coach Leonard Hamilton.  “He is a guy who really displayed an attitude that he wanted to get better on the first day he became a Seminole.  Patrick is a great teammate with tremendous attitude who will be a great fit for the Bulls.  We are extremely happy for him.”

Williams is the first Seminole to be picked by the Bulls since Rowland Garrett in 1972.

Vassell becomes just the fifth NBA Draft Lottery selection in school history.  He is the third Seminole in the last four NBA Drafts to be a top-11 selection joining Jonathan Isaac who was the No. 6 overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic and Patrick Williams who was selected No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bulls in tonight’s draft.

“I am so blessed to be an NBA Draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs,” said Vassell to seminoles.com.  “I worked out for San Antonio about two weeks ago.  I really enjoyed their staff and feel like I had a great meeting with them.  I am really looking forward to getting down to San Antonio and meeting my new teammates.”

Vassell entered his name as an early entry candidate for the draft in March. He is considered to be a tough defender who utilized his athleticism and incredible wingspan to lockdown some of the top players in the nation during his two-year career as a Seminole. Vassell takes advantage of his incredible wingspan (measured at 6-9 1/4), his height (6-7) and his leaping ability on both offense and defense to be a complete two-way player. Vassell was an All-ACC Second Team selection and named to the NABC District 2 First Team as a sophomore in 2020.

Vassell averaged a career-high 12.7 points (first among his Seminole teammates), 5.1 rebounds (first), 0.9 blocked shots (second) and 1.4 steals (second) in earning All-ACC Second-Team Honors in 2020.  He helped lead Florida State to a 26-5 overall record, a 16-4 record in ACC play and to the first ACC Regular Season title in school history in 2020.  Florida State’s 16 conference wins in 2020 ranks as the school record of ACC wins in a single season. The Seminoles would have earned a high seed and been one of the favorites to win the National Championship had the 2020 season not been cut short by the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020.

“Devin is an extremely versatile player who fits very well in San Antonio’s system,” said Hamilton. “He is a very good defensive player and will fit in well with Greg Popovich’s system. He is also a great outside shooter which also makes him a great fit for San Antonio.”