Court records or official statements from the players or their legal representatives

Six FSU Players Sue Coach Hamilton for $1.5 Million in Unpaid NIL Promises of $250,000 Each

Dec 30, 2024, 05:45 PM

Six former Florida State University basketball players have filed a lawsuit in Leon County circuit court against head coach Leonard Hamilton, alleging he failed to deliver on promises of $1.5 million in name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. The players, Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley, claim that Hamilton assured each of them $250,000 from his business partners. The lawsuit details how the players boycotted a practice last season before a game against Duke due to the unfulfilled payments. Despite Hamilton's assurances that the money would be paid the following week, the players never received the promised compensation. The lawsuit seeks $250,000 in compensatory damages for each player, along with punitive and exemplary damages. None of the plaintiffs are currently with the team, with four having transferred to other schools—UTSA, Xavier, South Florida, and Gonzaga—and two exhausting their eligibility.