Florida State University Athletics
For Isaac Spainhour It's All About Family
1/8/2024 2:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Growing up in the basketball-rich state of North Carolina, junior Isaac Spainhour has always had the most important sport in the state in his blood. He made a name for himself as the all-time leading scorer in West Stokes High School history with 1,880 career points.
At West Stokes, he was coached by his uncle, Dan Spainhour, one of the winningest basketball coaches in North Carolina boys' basketball history. Dan is the reason why Isaac is at Florida State today. He was the Director of Operations for the Seminole basketball team in 2005 and 2006. It was Dan who first presented the option of playing for the Seminoles to Isaac.
After receiving offers from Bucknell, The Citadel, and Roanoke College, Isaac decided to go a different direction and become a preferred walk-on to wear the coveted garnet and gold. He is thankful to his uncle for assisting him in reaching his goals by connecting him to Coach Leonard Hamilton and Assistant Coach Stan Jones.
"I knew when I visited Florida State, I would be a Seminole," said Isaac. "I visited when it was the Miami football game, and the energy and atmosphere was crazy."
For Spainhour, family means everything to him. Being over 500 miles away from home can be a lot to handle. He is one of five boys which made for an exciting childhood and never a dull moment.
Growing up he always had friends to rely on and was a part of a team. But nothing beats his best friends - Josh, Andrew, Noah, and James Spainhour -- his brothers.
"They are my best friends," said Isaac. "I had many friends growing up, but they were my go-to people."
When Florida State plays Wake Forest on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Center, it will be more than the garnet and gold against the old gold and black. It will be Isaac against his brother Noah, a sports performance intern for the Deacons. Isaac and Noah were all-conference basketball stars at West Stokes.
In fact, all the Spainhour brothers are athletically talented.
Josh began as a graduate assistant coach at Miami in the ACC in 2022 and then became an intern in the basketball sports performance department at Wake Forest in 2023. He is now the basketball strength and conditioning coach at East Tennessee State. Noah followed Josh in the same position at Wake Forest when Josh left for East Tennessee State.
Andrew also played basketball at West Stokes while James, the youngest of the five brothers, just finished his first season as a football player at William & Mary.
"Growing up in an athletic family was an amazing experience for me," said Isaac. "It made my childhood interesting; I've learned so much from each of my brothers. Being able to watch my brothers play inspired me to be my very best at everything I did. Sports has taught me a lot of great life lessons."
They were always there for one another supporting each other in their own respective sports. Their mother Tracy and father David have always been his biggest supporters.
"My mom is sort of a tomboy and was really active growing up playing softball, volleyball, and basketball in high school. She loved going to all of our games."
His family will be in attendance on Tuesday night against Wake Forest at the Tucker Center.
With Wake Forest University located only 15 minutes away from the family home in King, NC. this game and other North Carolina opponents are always ones they try to attend.
Spainhour never thought of attending Wake Forest while growing up despite growing less than a half-court shot from the campus. The Spainhour family had season tickets to their football games in 2006 – the year Wake Forest won the ACC Championship. Though he never played football, Isaac grew up playing baseball, golf, and tennis in addition to starring on the basketball court.
He played tennis for two years in high school during the springtime when basketball was not at the forefront of his life. He truly enjoyed his time playing golf also, and wishes he pursued the sport more.
When the team has days off and he is able to hit balls at the Seminole Legacy Golf Course.
"Golf relaxes me, and being able to take it for class credit was such a cool experience," said Isaac.
As he begins his final semester academically as a Sports Management major, Isaac is very much looking forward to this spring semester.
Isaac has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll three times (2021, 22, 23), has earned Dean's List Honors twice, was named to the NABC Academic Honors Court in 2023 and currently serves as one of the men's basketball representatives on Florida State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"Academic success is an integral part of my family," said Isaac. "From an early age, my parents always made sure we had good grades and held us to the highest standards that they knew we could be."
From the basketball court to the classroom, it's always been about family for Isaac.
He's looking forward to Tuesday night's game against Wake Forest with his biggest supporters in attendance.
At West Stokes, he was coached by his uncle, Dan Spainhour, one of the winningest basketball coaches in North Carolina boys' basketball history. Dan is the reason why Isaac is at Florida State today. He was the Director of Operations for the Seminole basketball team in 2005 and 2006. It was Dan who first presented the option of playing for the Seminoles to Isaac.
After receiving offers from Bucknell, The Citadel, and Roanoke College, Isaac decided to go a different direction and become a preferred walk-on to wear the coveted garnet and gold. He is thankful to his uncle for assisting him in reaching his goals by connecting him to Coach Leonard Hamilton and Assistant Coach Stan Jones.
"I knew when I visited Florida State, I would be a Seminole," said Isaac. "I visited when it was the Miami football game, and the energy and atmosphere was crazy."
For Spainhour, family means everything to him. Being over 500 miles away from home can be a lot to handle. He is one of five boys which made for an exciting childhood and never a dull moment.
Growing up he always had friends to rely on and was a part of a team. But nothing beats his best friends - Josh, Andrew, Noah, and James Spainhour -- his brothers.
"They are my best friends," said Isaac. "I had many friends growing up, but they were my go-to people."
When Florida State plays Wake Forest on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Center, it will be more than the garnet and gold against the old gold and black. It will be Isaac against his brother Noah, a sports performance intern for the Deacons. Isaac and Noah were all-conference basketball stars at West Stokes.
In fact, all the Spainhour brothers are athletically talented.
Josh began as a graduate assistant coach at Miami in the ACC in 2022 and then became an intern in the basketball sports performance department at Wake Forest in 2023. He is now the basketball strength and conditioning coach at East Tennessee State. Noah followed Josh in the same position at Wake Forest when Josh left for East Tennessee State.
Andrew also played basketball at West Stokes while James, the youngest of the five brothers, just finished his first season as a football player at William & Mary.
"Growing up in an athletic family was an amazing experience for me," said Isaac. "It made my childhood interesting; I've learned so much from each of my brothers. Being able to watch my brothers play inspired me to be my very best at everything I did. Sports has taught me a lot of great life lessons."
They were always there for one another supporting each other in their own respective sports. Their mother Tracy and father David have always been his biggest supporters.
"My mom is sort of a tomboy and was really active growing up playing softball, volleyball, and basketball in high school. She loved going to all of our games."
His family will be in attendance on Tuesday night against Wake Forest at the Tucker Center.
With Wake Forest University located only 15 minutes away from the family home in King, NC. this game and other North Carolina opponents are always ones they try to attend.
Spainhour never thought of attending Wake Forest while growing up despite growing less than a half-court shot from the campus. The Spainhour family had season tickets to their football games in 2006 – the year Wake Forest won the ACC Championship. Though he never played football, Isaac grew up playing baseball, golf, and tennis in addition to starring on the basketball court.
He played tennis for two years in high school during the springtime when basketball was not at the forefront of his life. He truly enjoyed his time playing golf also, and wishes he pursued the sport more.
When the team has days off and he is able to hit balls at the Seminole Legacy Golf Course.
"Golf relaxes me, and being able to take it for class credit was such a cool experience," said Isaac.
As he begins his final semester academically as a Sports Management major, Isaac is very much looking forward to this spring semester.
Isaac has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll three times (2021, 22, 23), has earned Dean's List Honors twice, was named to the NABC Academic Honors Court in 2023 and currently serves as one of the men's basketball representatives on Florida State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"Academic success is an integral part of my family," said Isaac. "From an early age, my parents always made sure we had good grades and held us to the highest standards that they knew we could be."
From the basketball court to the classroom, it's always been about family for Isaac.
He's looking forward to Tuesday night's game against Wake Forest with his biggest supporters in attendance.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's BasketballFSU Football | TE Desirrio Riles Post-Practice Media Availability
Thursday, April 02
FSU Football | Punter Daniel Hughes Post-Practice Media Availability
Thursday, April 02
FSU Football | STC Adam Scheier Post-Practice Media Availability
Thursday, April 02
FSU Football | DL Jalen Anderson Post-Practice Media Availability
Tuesday, March 31