Florida State basketball is making moves-and not just on the court.
With first-year head coach Luke Loucks at the helm, the Seminoles are starting to build something intriguing in Tallahassee. Loucks, a former FSU player himself, has already reeled in a strong 2026 recruiting class, but his next target could be his biggest get yet.
Enter Jarvis Hayes, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Woodward Academy in Atlanta and a top-30 national prospect in the 2027 class. Hayes recently told 247Sports that Florida State is firmly on his radar.
“I want to take a visit there,” Hayes said. “The staff has a group chat with me and my dad.
Obviously, they are taking me seriously and want to build a relationship with me. I have been texting them every week.”
That’s the kind of dialogue you want if you’re building toward something special. It’s early, but Hayes’ interest is real-and mutual.
FSU hasn’t landed a commitment yet for the 2027 cycle, but if Hayes were to pledge, he’d instantly become the crown jewel of Loucks’ young tenure. He currently holds a 94 grade from 247Sports and carries a composite score of 0.9874, which would make him the highest-rated recruit Loucks has landed to date.
Loucks already has momentum. The 2026 class features three four-star signees, including in-state standouts Brandon Bass (Windermere) and Collin Paul (Fort Lauderdale), plus Marcis Ponder, a highly touted center from Springfield, Virginia, who signed back in November 2025. But Hayes would take the program’s recruiting profile to another level.
Of course, FSU isn’t alone in this pursuit. Hayes is being courted by some of the top programs in the Southeast. Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Georgia are all in the mix-and each has its own compelling pitch.
Georgia, in particular, has a family connection. Hayes’ father played for the Bulldogs, and that legacy isn’t lost on the young guard.
“My dad went there, so I obviously felt the tension of everyone looking at me because they want me to go there,” Hayes said. “I like Mike White and how his team plays in transition.
They play at a fast pace. My dad and I talk about me potentially going there.”
Clemson, meanwhile, has a more personal angle. Hayes’ former teammate, Zac Foster, is already on the Tigers’ roster and has been sharing positive feedback about his experience.
“Zac tells me how they play in transition and how he likes how the coaches treat him. He feels like it’s a family over there,” Hayes noted.
Then there’s Georgia Tech, where head coach Damon Stoudamire has made an impression of his own-especially with his sideline demeanor.
“I like how he shows no emotion when his players make mistakes,” Hayes said. “He stays calm.”
As it stands, Hayes is ranked No. 27 nationally, and his recruitment is heating up. Florida State is considered “warm” in his interest level, and there’s a long way to go. But Loucks and his staff are clearly in the mix-and they’re going about it the right way: building a relationship, staying consistent, and showing Hayes that he’s a priority.
For a program looking to climb back into the national spotlight, landing a player like Hayes would be a statement. And for Loucks, it would be a defining early win in what’s shaping up to be a promising new era of Seminole basketball.