Florida State University Athletics
Wednesday, January 8
Coral Gables, FL
7:00 p.m.
Florida State
at
University of Miami
Maluk, Seminoles Travel To Take On Miami Wednesday At 7:00 P.M.
1/7/2025 9:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Adapting to change isn't just a skill for Florida State freshman forward Alier Maluk, it's been the foundation of his basketball journey.
He was born in the South Sudan in East Africa. At age three, he moved from Kenya to Western Pennsylvania where he began playing basketball. He attended school in Baldwin and Bethel Park, Pa., (suburbs of Pittsburgh) and began blossoming as a sophomore in high school at Imani Christian Academy in the heart of Pittsburgh.
As a sophomore at Imani Christian, he averaged 15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game as the Saints went 23-6, winning WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles. In the state finals he had 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Following his successful sophomore season at Imani Christian, he and his family chose to transfer to Long Island Lutheran – a national high school basketball powerhouse.
With his addition to the Lutheran roster in August 2023, the team was ranked No. 3 in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) preseason rankings. Maluk averaged 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds while leading the Crusaders with 26 blocked shots in conference play during his only season at Long Island Lutheran.
Maluk participated in the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team minicamp in 2022 and helped Lutheran advance to the quarterfinals of the Geico National Championship Tournament in 2023.
After his successful season at Lutheran and head-turning play in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League that spring Maluk and his family faced another adjustment period. A long line of coaches hoped to lure the talented forward to their campus.
Maluk and the Seminoles (10-4, 1-2 ACC) travel south to face the Miami Hurricanes (4-10, 0-3 ACC) on Wednesday night at the Watsco Center. The game begins at 7:00 and will be televised on the ACC Network.
Because he had earned enough high school credits, Maluk was eligible to reclassify himself academically and graduate a year early. Originally a member of the high school class of 2025, he graduated from Long Island Lutheran in 2024.
"Reclassification wasn't always the plan for me," said Maluk. "My circle of family and coaches helped me make that decision as I progressed through high school and continued to develop as a player."
As a top-25 national prospect, Maluk committed to Florida State because of the culture within the program and the history that head coach Leonard Hamilton and his coaching staff have of preparing players to reach the next level.
"Coach Hamilton and his staff help their players to reach their goals. I want to be the next Seminole to achieve my goals under this staff," said Maluk the day he signed to play for Hamilton at Florida State.
Maluk, a cousin of Bol Bol a 7-3 forward who plays for the Phoenix Suns, chose Florida State over Maryland, LSU, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh. Maluk received his first scholarship offer while he was in the eighth grade from current Seminole assistant coach Kevin Nickelberry when he was an assistant coach at LSU.
He has quickly and seamlessly adjusted to life as a student-athlete at Florida State since his arrival in Tallahassee in August.
Maluk cites his biggest adjustments in assimilating himself into life as student-athlete have been getting used to the speed and physicality of the college game. He has played in 13 of the Seminoles' 14 games and averages 3.1 points scored per game. Maluk is tied for second on the team in blocked shots with 10, is shooting right at 50 percent from the field, and is playing an average of more than 10 minutes per game.
Hamilton has certainly noticed how quickly Maluk has adjusted from starring in high school to helping the Seminoles to a 10-4 record.
"Alier came in against Syracuse and was very comfortable," said Hamilton. "I thought he was active, changing shots, contesting, and blocking shots. He didn't have any hesitation once he got the ball from an offensive standpoint. He wasn't doing that earlier this year when he was very hesitant. He is growing up and maturing. I think you are going to continue to see him get better and better."
While Maluk has successfully faced his challenges during his transition from becoming a high school student athlete to a college student-athlete, he has also aced his academic transition.
During his first semester on campus, he helped the Seminole basketball team achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.059.
"The easiest part of my transition to becoming a student-athlete at Florida State has been academically," said Maluk. "The toughest part of the transition would be practices after traveling to and from games. The academic counselors are great; they provide all of the help we need to be successful in the classroom."
Maluk earned a 3.0 grade point average in his first semester with his first collegiate grade of A in his Public Administration and Society class. He has chosen communications as his major.
Not only has the coaching staff realized Maluk's potential to be a top player in the Seminoles' program throughout his career, but that potential has been observed by his teammates.
"I feel like Alier is more mature, and learned a lot during his first semester at Florida State," said roommate Bostyn Holt. "He's learned how to balance his academic assignments with long days at practice. Because I am around him every day, I can see the growth he's made, and continues to make each day."
As he continues to carve out his place on the team, Maluk is illustrating why he is destined to fit and thrive in garnet and gold.
He was born in the South Sudan in East Africa. At age three, he moved from Kenya to Western Pennsylvania where he began playing basketball. He attended school in Baldwin and Bethel Park, Pa., (suburbs of Pittsburgh) and began blossoming as a sophomore in high school at Imani Christian Academy in the heart of Pittsburgh.
As a sophomore at Imani Christian, he averaged 15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game as the Saints went 23-6, winning WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles. In the state finals he had 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Following his successful sophomore season at Imani Christian, he and his family chose to transfer to Long Island Lutheran – a national high school basketball powerhouse.
With his addition to the Lutheran roster in August 2023, the team was ranked No. 3 in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) preseason rankings. Maluk averaged 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds while leading the Crusaders with 26 blocked shots in conference play during his only season at Long Island Lutheran.
Maluk participated in the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team minicamp in 2022 and helped Lutheran advance to the quarterfinals of the Geico National Championship Tournament in 2023.
After his successful season at Lutheran and head-turning play in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League that spring Maluk and his family faced another adjustment period. A long line of coaches hoped to lure the talented forward to their campus.
Maluk and the Seminoles (10-4, 1-2 ACC) travel south to face the Miami Hurricanes (4-10, 0-3 ACC) on Wednesday night at the Watsco Center. The game begins at 7:00 and will be televised on the ACC Network.
Because he had earned enough high school credits, Maluk was eligible to reclassify himself academically and graduate a year early. Originally a member of the high school class of 2025, he graduated from Long Island Lutheran in 2024.
"Reclassification wasn't always the plan for me," said Maluk. "My circle of family and coaches helped me make that decision as I progressed through high school and continued to develop as a player."
As a top-25 national prospect, Maluk committed to Florida State because of the culture within the program and the history that head coach Leonard Hamilton and his coaching staff have of preparing players to reach the next level.
"Coach Hamilton and his staff help their players to reach their goals. I want to be the next Seminole to achieve my goals under this staff," said Maluk the day he signed to play for Hamilton at Florida State.
Maluk, a cousin of Bol Bol a 7-3 forward who plays for the Phoenix Suns, chose Florida State over Maryland, LSU, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh. Maluk received his first scholarship offer while he was in the eighth grade from current Seminole assistant coach Kevin Nickelberry when he was an assistant coach at LSU.
He has quickly and seamlessly adjusted to life as a student-athlete at Florida State since his arrival in Tallahassee in August.
Maluk cites his biggest adjustments in assimilating himself into life as student-athlete have been getting used to the speed and physicality of the college game. He has played in 13 of the Seminoles' 14 games and averages 3.1 points scored per game. Maluk is tied for second on the team in blocked shots with 10, is shooting right at 50 percent from the field, and is playing an average of more than 10 minutes per game.
Hamilton has certainly noticed how quickly Maluk has adjusted from starring in high school to helping the Seminoles to a 10-4 record.
"Alier came in against Syracuse and was very comfortable," said Hamilton. "I thought he was active, changing shots, contesting, and blocking shots. He didn't have any hesitation once he got the ball from an offensive standpoint. He wasn't doing that earlier this year when he was very hesitant. He is growing up and maturing. I think you are going to continue to see him get better and better."
While Maluk has successfully faced his challenges during his transition from becoming a high school student athlete to a college student-athlete, he has also aced his academic transition.
During his first semester on campus, he helped the Seminole basketball team achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.059.
"The easiest part of my transition to becoming a student-athlete at Florida State has been academically," said Maluk. "The toughest part of the transition would be practices after traveling to and from games. The academic counselors are great; they provide all of the help we need to be successful in the classroom."
Maluk earned a 3.0 grade point average in his first semester with his first collegiate grade of A in his Public Administration and Society class. He has chosen communications as his major.
Not only has the coaching staff realized Maluk's potential to be a top player in the Seminoles' program throughout his career, but that potential has been observed by his teammates.
"I feel like Alier is more mature, and learned a lot during his first semester at Florida State," said roommate Bostyn Holt. "He's learned how to balance his academic assignments with long days at practice. Because I am around him every day, I can see the growth he's made, and continues to make each day."
As he continues to carve out his place on the team, Maluk is illustrating why he is destined to fit and thrive in garnet and gold.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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