Florida State freshman center Marcis Ponder made an immediate impact in his college debut, earning the nickname "Baby Shaq" from fans during a 113-69 victory over Florida A&M on Monday night.
The 7-foot, 285-pound center finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and one block in just 16 minutes of play. Ponder scored his first points on a put-back dunk less than two minutes into the game and quickly added another offensive rebound and dunk. He dominated the offensive glass, collecting seven rebounds in the first half alone.
Early dominance
Ponder's performance continued a strong preseason showing. In an exhibition game against Auburn on October 15, he recorded 13 points and 21 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards. The No. 43-ranked recruit in the 2026 class by 247Sports chose Florida State over offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Miami, Providence, and Texas.
Second-year coach Luke Loucks, a former Florida State player and former Sacramento Kings assistant, views Ponder as a key building block as the Seminoles aim to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
Upcoming test
Florida State faces a major challenge on November 10 against No. 1 ranked Florida, which features one of the nation's most experienced frontcourts. The matchup will provide a significant early test for Ponder and the Seminoles.
