Florida State University Athletics
Nichols Carrying Success Over To Florida State
12/16/2018 5:59:06 PM | Men's Basketball
Florida State vs. Southeast Missouri Notes / Florida State Statistics / Nichols Doing Well In Adjusting To Role with Seminoles / David Nichols Bio / David Nichols — True Student Athlete
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (seminoles.com) — When looking at the newcomers on this year’s Florida State men’s basketball team, David Nichols finds himself in a position very few have been in before him. In actuality, only one person has.
Nichols came to Florida State from the University of Albany, where he spent his first three years of NCAA eligibility obtaining a bachelor’s degree in communications. He is just the second graduate transfer in Florida State’s history, the first being Jeff Peterson in 2012, who helped the Seminoles to their first ACC Championship.
In his first and only year as a Seminole, Nichols is looking to create the same immediate impact that Peterson did on the Seminoles’ 2012 team.
He played his best game as a Seminole against UConn in the Never Forget Tribute Classic with 16 points – including 13 in the first half. Nichols’ play against the Huskies helped the Seminoles to an important 79-71 win.
“I think it was an adjustment period, but everything’s starting to really slow down,” said Nichols of his recent play. “I’m starting to see the floor more, starting to see where to attack, when to keep the ball moving and when to find my shot. I just think I’m definitely getting more comfortable.”
In his time at Albany, Nichols totaled 1,132 points. He averaged 16.5 points per game in both his sophomore and junior year and became one of only eleven Albany players in program history to score 1,000 or more career points in the America East Conference.
Last year as a junior, Nichols earned America East All-Conference First Team honors, as well as America East All-Tournament team honors.
However, Nichols wanted more.
While enjoying success at Albany, he decided that he wanted a greater challenge. In addition, he wanted the chance to compete for college basketball’s most coveted prize – a national title. These desires are ultimately what led him to Tallahassee.
“When I was making my decision, it was kind of a mentality thing,” said Nichols. “I didn’t want to go somewhere where I’d shoot 20 shots a game, average 20 points and then be looking at the end of the year and not have made it to an NCAA tournament or not have achieved the team goals, which are important to me.
“I feel like I have the chance to do something special at Florida State with all the returning talent. We have a great opportunity to reach our team goals.”
Just as Nichols was looking for a particular environment to play his final season of eligibility, the Seminoles were looking for a certain type of player to step into this role. Having lost two guards following last season in Braian Angola and C.J. Walker, the Seminoles needed an experienced guard who could come in and contribute right away. Nichols met those very needs.
“David has an unbelievable balance of experience, intelligence, toughness and a lot of grit that immediately transfers and enhances where we are as a team,” said FSU assistant Dennis Gates. “He’s given up a lot to be able to be in that position as a player, but also as a teammate. For him, he wanted an opportunity to play at a higher level, which says a lot about his personality.”
Although a newcomer with this year’s group, Nichols is certainly not a newcomer to college basketball. His experience has helped him become a leader for the younger members of this team in showcasing what it takes to win in this regard. He represents an example for how to conduct oneself both on the basketball court and in the classroom as well.
While at Albany, Nichols earned a Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2017-18 academic year, one of only eleven student-athletes at the university to receive this honor. To be named to this list, a student-athlete must boast a 3.75 career GPA while earning his or her degree in that academic year. In addition, as a sophomore, he was honored as the America East Scholar Athlete of the year.
“David is a perfectionist,” said Gates. “He’s the epitome of a student-athlete and when you have a guy that’s able to be a great basketball player and a great student, you have to jump at that opportunity to have him as a part of your program.
“He approaches basketball the same way he approaches academics, he wants to win a national championship in both and that behavior bodes well in this environment.”
All of this considered, it is safe to say that Nichols brings quite a bit to the table. His own personal desires to succeed have led him to Florida State, while his past experiences and successes both on and off the court have shaped him to be an example right away.
While the season is still young, Nichols has already shown signs of the impact he can create. If all bodes well for the Seminoles, then come the end of this season, his impact will look much like that of Peterson’s in 2012.
With his experiences at Albany, there is no doubt that Nichols knows how to win. At Florida State, he has the opportunity to utilize everything he has learned and take that knowledge to the biggest stages in college basketball, playing against the best talent in the nation while helping Florida State accomplish its team’s goal of winning a national championship.