Florida State University Athletics
2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Josh Nickelberry
- Year:
- Graduate Student
- Height:
- 6-5
- Hometown:
- Fayetteville, N.C.
- Weight:
- 200
- High School:
- Northwood Temple Academy
- Other College:
- La Salle / Louisville
Josh Nickelberry’s Career-High’s
PTS: 28 vs. Holy Cross (12-4-21*)
REBS: 8 vs. Holy Cross (12-4-22*)
BLKS: 1 vs. Holy Cross (12-14-21*), at Penn (12-3-23*)
STLS: 2 vs Saint Louis (3-10-22*), vs. Bucknell (12-6-22*)
ASTS: 4 vs. UMass (2-26-22*)
20 Point Games: 7 (22 vs. Sacred Heart, 11-9-21*), (28 vs. Holy Cross, 12-4-21*), (23 at Duquesne, 3-5-22*), (22 at Villanova, 11-7-22*), (20 at Wagner, 11-12-22*), (26 at Wake Forest, 11-18-22*), (21 at VCU, 12-31-22*)
5 3-Point Field Goal Games: 10 (6 vs. Sacred Heart, 11-9-21*), (5 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 12-7-21*), (5 vs. Saint Bonaventure, 1-11-22*), (5 vs. George Mason, 2-5-22*), (5 at Duquesne, 3-5-22*), (5 at Villanova, 11-7-22*), (6 vs. Wake Forest, 11-18-22*), (7 vs. UMass, 2-22-23*), (6 vs. Duquesne, 2-22-23*), (5 vs. Loyola-Chicago, 3-4-23*)
*denotes while at La Salle
HONORS
2024 All-ACC Academic Men's Basketball Team
WHY I WEAR MY NUMBER
I wear No. 20 at Florida State as a tribute to my favorite all-time player, Ray Allen. Ray Allen has been my favorite all-time shooting guard since I was 10 years old. I’ve worn 20 my whole basketball career because of him.
Josh Nickelberry is the 13th player in school history to earn uniform No. 20. The number was worn by Andrew Wilson (2002-06), who played on Head Coach Leonard Hamilton’s first team at Florida State in 2003. He is currently in his second season as the Head Coach at VMI.
WHAT'S IN A NAME
My full name is Joshua Darren Nickelberry. My grandmother liked the name Joshua from the Book of Joshua in the Bible, and asked my parents to give me that as my first name. My grandmother was battling an illness during my mother’s pregnancy with me. Biblically, Joshua was the assistant to Moses, who later became his successor. Joshua translates to “Jehovah is Salvation.” My middle name, Darren, is my uncle’s (my mother’s bother) first name.
MY HOMETOWN
My hometown of Fayetteville, N.C. is best known as the home to the Fort Bragg Military Base. It’s a small town and very family-orientated where everyone is treated with love and respect.
ON NICKELBERRY
Played one season at Florida State (2023-24) after transferring from Louisville (2020 and 2021) and La Salle (2022 and 2023) to play his final collegiate season as a Seminole…played as a graduate student during his only season at Florida State…averaged 6.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 199 career collegiate games…returned to the ACC for his final season of collegiate eligibility after playing two seasons at Louisville in the ACC (2019 and 2020) and two at La Salle of the Atlantic 10 (2022 and 2023)...named as the Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year while at La Salle during the 2022-23 season...entered the NCAA transfer portal on March 22, 2023 and pledged his commitment to Florida State and head coach Leonard Hamilton on April 16, 2023...was Florida State’s first transfer portal commitment for its 2023-24 roster...graduated with his degree in Communication with a concentration in journalism on May 16 from La Salle University…began his career at Louisville, where he averaged 1.5 points and 0.4 rebounds in 24 games during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons...his Louisville career-high of five points came against Virginia Tech (Jan. 6 2021) and against Duke in the ACC Tournament (march 10, 2021...played against Florida State twice during his career as a Cardinal – zero points an zero rebounds in one minute of playing time in a 78-65 Seminole win pm Jan. 4, 2021 at the KFC YUM! Center in Louisville – and zero points and zero rebounds in a 78-65 Florida State win on Jan. 18, 2021 at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee...Florida State was 3-0 against Louisville with Nickelberry as an opponent...Louisville totaled a 37-14 overall record and a 23-10 record in ACC play with Nickelberry on the roster...played two seasons at La Salle where he averaged 11.0 points and 2.7 rebounds while making 140 3-point shots in 63 games as an Explorer during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons...his La Salle career-high of 28 points came in an 84-65 win over Holy Cross at the Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., on December 4, 2021...totaled 26 points in 75-63 loss to Wake Forest in the Jamaica Classic on Nov. 18 in Montego Bay, Jamaica...the Explorers’ game against the Demon Deacons was his only game against an ACC opponent during his two seasons at La Salle...La Salle with 26-38 overall and 12-30 in Atlantic-10 play during the his two season and 63 games on the Explorers’ roster...the first player to verbally commit to Head Coach Chris Mack and Louisville in 2018 as a senior in high school...was ranked No. 83 nationally in the ESPN 100, No. 96 by 247Sports.com and No. 97 by Rivals.com as a senior in high school…named to the 2024 All-ACC Academic Men’s Basketball Team.
AS A GRADUATE STUDENT (2024)
Averaged 2.5 points (12th on the team), 0.9 rebounds (12th) and 9.3 minutes played per game (12th) while playing in 32 of Florida State’s 33 games in his only season at Florida State…was a starter on Senior Day in Tallahassee in his only start as a Seminole in leading Florida State to an 83-75 win over Miami at the Donald L. Tucker Center…played in all 20 of Florida State’s ACC games during the regular season and against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament in Washington, D.C…earned his single season career-highs for blocked shots with two – one each against SMU (Dec. 16) and against North Carolina (Jan. 27)…scored in double-figures twice as a Seminole with 12 points in Florida State’s victory over Central Michigan in the first round of the Sunshine Slam (Nov. 13) and against South Florida with 10 points in the Orange Bowl Classic (Dec. 16)…averaged 6.0 points scored per game in leading the Seminoles to the tournament championship in the Sunshine Slam with 12 points against Central Michigan and six points against No 18 Colorado in the Seminoles; 77-71 overtime victory over the Buffaloes which lifted the Seminoles to the championship in the event…his Florida State high of four rebounds came in his first game in the Garnet and Gold against Kennesaw State (Nov. 10) and against SMU…Scored 9 points with 4 rebounds in 12 minutes of playing time in his Florida State debut as the Seminoles defeated Kennesaw State, 94-67, at the Donald L. Tucker Center (Nov. 10)...scored his Florida State career-high of 21 points and added 3 assists in Florida State's 94-67 win over Central Michigan in the first round of the Sunshine Slam at the Donald L. Tucker Center...totaled 10 points with 2 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal against South Florida in the Orange Bowl Classic (Dec. 9)...totaled 7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal in Florida State's 63-62 win over Boston College on the road in ACC play at the Conte Forum (Feb. 6)...totaled 2 points and 1 rebound in Florida State's game against North Carolina in the second round of the ACC Tournament at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (March 14).
AS SENIOR (2023): Averaged 10.9 points (second on the team) and 2.7 rebounds (eighth) while making a career-high 70 3-point shots (first) and a career-high .401 from the 3-point line (first) in leading La Salle to a 15-19 overall record and a 7-11 record in Atlantic-10 conference games...one of four players to play in each of the Explorers’ 34 games...named as the Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 12.5 points per game in 14 games off the bench... named to the Atlantic 10 Weekly Honor Roll four times and to the Philadelphia Big 5 Weekly Honor Roll four times in his second season at La Salle...totaled six 20-point games which gave him 10 career 20-point games...scored in double figures in 30 career games at La Salle...led the team in scoring 16 times in his career at La Salle...ranked fifth in the A-10 in 3-point field goals made (79), sixth in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.3), and seventh in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.401)...earned career-highs for games played (34), field goals made (118), field goals attempted (290), 3-point field goals made (79), 3-point field goals attempted (197), free throws made (57), free throws attempted (71), free throw percentage (.803), offensive rebounds (22), steals (13) and total minutes (839), while tying his career-highs for defensive rebounds (7), assists (23) and blocked shots (one)...a prolific 3-point shooter with a career-high 79 3-point shots made – a total that ranks as the 18th highest single game total in school history...at least one 3-point shot made in 27 of his 34 games as a senior...totaled three or more 3-point shots made in 14 of La Salle’s 34 games...his career-high of seven 3-point shots made came in scoring 21 points against UMass (Feb. 11)...totaled six 3-point shots made and scored 26 points against Wake Forest in the Jamaica Classic (Nov. 18) and six from the bonusphere against Duquesne (career-high tying 28 points, Feb. 22)...made five 3-point shots at Villanova (22 points, Nov. 7) and Loyola Chicago (17 points, Feb. 28)...ranked third on the team in free throws made with a career-high 57 and a career-high .803 free throw shooting percentage...made six or more free throws in four games with his career-high 10 free throws made and 20 points coming against Wagner (Nov. 12)...made his career-high of 10 free throws on his career-high of 12 free throws attempted against the Seahawks...also made eight of 10 free throws against Duquesne (28 points, Feb. 22)...was a perfect six of six from the free throw line against Wake Forest...tied his career-high as he scored 28 points off the bench against Duquesne...totaled 21 points against UMass (Feb. 11)...a game-high 18 points in the Explorers’ victory over St. Bonaventure (Feb. 8) and totaled a game-high 16 points against Saint Joseph’s (Feb. 5)...the best two-game span of his career with 42 points against Villanova (22 points, Nob. 7) and Wagner (20 points)...his 22 points against Villanova came on seven of 12 shooting from the floor and five made 3-point shots against Wagner...totaled 26 points against Wake Forest of the ACC in the first game of the Jamaica Classic...was seven of 14 from the field with six 3-point shots made and was a perfect six of six from the free throw line against the Demon Deacons...a career-best five consecutive games in double figure scoring against Rhode Island (16 points, Jan. 28), George Washington (12 points, Feb. 1), at Saint Joseph’s (16 points, Feb. 5), at St. Bonaventure (18 points, Feb. 8) and at home against UMass (21 points) as he averaged 16.6 points per game during that span of five games...four consecutive games in double figures against Duquesne (28 points), at George Washington (13 points, Feb. 25), at Dayton (15 points, Feb. 28) and against Loyola-Chicago (17 points) as he averaged 15.6 points per game in those games.
AS JUNIOR (2022): Averaged a career-high 11.2 points (third on the team), a career-high 2.8 rebounds (fifth) while making a team-leading 61 3-point shots in his first season at La Salle...started 21 of 29 games and played in 29 of La Salle 30 games in his first season at the Philadelphia based school...totaled career-high statistics for games started (21) and field goal shooting percentage (.408), while tying his career-high statistics for defensive rebounds (70) and assists (23)...four games of 20 points or more – 22 points against Sacred Heart (Nov. 9), his career-high of 28 points against Holy Cross (Dec. 4), 24 Fairleigh Dickinson (Dec. 7), and 23 points at Duquesne (March 5)...scored his career-high of 28 points for the first time in his career against Holy Cross (Dec. 4)...totaled his career-high of 10 field goals made, made four 3-point shots and was a perfect four of four from the free throw line in scoring 28 points against the Crusaders...made his La Salle debut with a 22 point, seven rebound performance with six point shots made against Sacred Heart...totaled 52 points in consecutive games against Holy Cross (28 points) and Fairleigh Dickinson (24 points) on 18 of 30 shooting from the field (.600 field goal shooting percentage), 9 of 18 shooting from the 3-point line (.500 3-point field goal shooting percentage), and was a perfect seven of seven from the free throw line (1.000 free throw shooting percentage)...consecutive scoring games of 17 points against Saint Bonaventure (Jan.11) and at Saint Joseph’s (Jan. 19) to average 18 points per game...season high of four consecutive games in double figure scoring games against Holy Cross (28 points), Fairleigh Dickinson (24 points), Penn (15 points) and at Bucknell (10 points) to average 19.3 points scored per game...totaled at least one made 3-point shot in 25 of his 29 games played...led the Explorers with 61 3-point shots made including his season-high of six in his first game at La Salle...did not go more than two consecutive games without making a 3-point shot during his junior season...four or more 3-point shots made in six different games...in a three-game set against Holy Cross (four of 10), Fairleigh Dickinson (five of eight) and Penn (four of nine), he was a combined 13 of 27 (.481 percent) from the 3-point line...totaled his career-high of eight rebounds (along with his career-high of 28 points) against Holy Cross...also totaled seven rebounds (along with 22 points) against Sacred Heart...five or more rebounds came five times in his first season at La Salle...his career-high of four assists came against Massachusetts.
AS SOPHOMORE (2021): Averaged 2.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in nine games played as a sophomore at Louisville during the 2020-21 season...missed the first five games of his sophomore season because of an injury...played in only nine games of the pandemic-affected season due to illness or injury...totaled his Louisville career-high with five points against Virginia Tech (Jan. 6) and against Duke in the ACC Tournament (March 10)...scored at last three points in seven of the nine games he played in in his second season at Louisville...seven of his eight shots made during the season were 3-point shots...made one 3-point shot in seven different games...totaled his season-high of two rebounds against Duke in the ACC Tournament...was a perfect two of two from the free throw line against Duke and closed his two-year career at Louisville making a perfect eight of eight free throws...earned his season-high of two assists against Clemson (Jan. 27)...played in seven ACC games...earned playing time in double figure minutes in six different games with his Louisville career-high of 19 minutes played coming at Wake Forest...earned 17 minutes of playing time against Duke in his final game as a Cardinal in the ACC Tournament..
AS FRESHMAN (2020): Averaged 0.8 points and 0.2 rebounds in 15 games played at Louisville during the 2019-20 season...missed seven games in his first collegiate season because of injuries...played in a total of 55 minutes in his 15 appearances with his season-high of 10 minute played against N.C. Central (Nov. 17)...his season-high of three points came against N.C. Central and at NC State (Feb. 1) in ACC play...also scored points in games against Indiana State (Nov. 13), Western Kentucky (Nov. 29) and Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 14)...totaled one rebound against Indiana State, USC Upstate (Nov. 20) and Western Kentucky...made two baskets as a freshman (both were 3-point shots) and was a perfect six of six from the free throw line with two free throws made against Indiana State, Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky...earned playing time in seven ACC games including one game against Florida State (Jan. 4)...totaled zero points in one minute played in a 78-65 win by the Seminoles at the KFC YUM! Center in Louisville.
AT NORTHWOOD TEMPLE ACADEMY: Graduated from Northwood Temple Academy in 2019...NTA is located in his hometown of Fayetteville, N.C...played his eighth grade and freshman season at Northwood Temple, played his sophomore season at Trinity Catholic, and returned to Northwood Trinity for his junior and senior seasons...the fourth-leading scorer in the history of high school basketball in the state of North Carolina with 2,904 career points...the top three all-time leading scorers in the history of North Carolina high school basketball are Coby White (3,325 points, 2016-19), JamesOn Curry (3,307 points, 2001-04) and Sage Surratt (2,951 points, 2014-17)...scored 886 points as a senior...averaged 26.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a senior, leading NTA to a 20-14 record and a runner-up finish in the 1A NCISAA North Carolina state championship...earned NCISAA and Associated Press All-State honors as a senior at Northwood Temple...he was one vote short of a unanimous selection on the AP team, a member of the All-USA North Carolina Boys Basketball Team, and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee...averaged 24.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists as a junior in helping Northwood Temple Academy to the quarterfinals of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A championship, earning first team all-state honors...played his eighth-grade and freshman seasons at Northwood Temple, played his sophomore year at Trinity Christian, and returned to Northwood Temple for his final two years...totaled 33 points and was named the MVP of the East Team at the Big Baller Brand All-American game in Las Vegas.
AT TRINITY CHRISTIAN: Played his sophomore year at Trinity Christian...earned NCISAA 1A All-State honors as a sophomore as he averaged 18.0 points per game...scored in double figures in all but three games in leading his team to the NCISAA 1-A championship game.
PERSONAL: Born March 9, 2001...Josh is the son of Meredith and Gerald Nickelberry...his mother played organized volleyball and is an Army veteran...his father played football at Northern Illinois...his father is ranked fourth in school history for assisted tackles (190), sixth in total tackles (419) and eighth in solo tackles (229)...he holds the Northern Illinois record for fumbles recovered in a game with three, and the longest fumble recovery return of 93 yards – all against Arkansas in 1993...was the Northern Illinois team captain in 1994...his stepmother was a track athlete and a volleyball player and is also an Army veteran...started playing basketball at the age of eight...remembers his first dunk coming in the eighth grade...a member of the Game Elite Gold AAU team in Atlanta...played as a graduate student at Florida State.
