Report: Florida State men’s hoops adds Italian wing after Thomas Bassong’s departure

VARESE, ITALY - 2026/03/28: Elisee Assui of Pallacanestro Varese OpenJobMetis seen in action during LBA Lega Basket A 2025/26 Regular Season game between Pallacanestro Varese OpenJobMetis and Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona at Itelyum Arena. Final score; Pallacanestro Varese OpenJobMetis 97 | 87 Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Well, that was fast.

Almost 12 hours after a report that Thomas Bassong was planning to enter the transfer portal, Luke Loucks found an international replacement to fill his spot on the roster.

Italian forward Elisee Assui has flipped his commitment from George Washington to Florida State, Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express first reported on Wednesday morning.

Assui, which different outlets list as either 6’3” or 6’5”, currently plays in Italy’s top division with Itelyum Varese as a reserve. The 20-year-old also played on the international circuit for Italy at the 2025 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, averaging 13.4 points per game and helping lead his home country to a gold medal.

As far as Assui’s athletic profile, it seems that he will be coming to Tallahassee as a raw prospect with impressive physical, almost identical to Bassong. He should be able to help Florida State switch constantly on the defensive end while his offense comes along.

Assui is Florida State’s fifth prospect out of the transfer portal in the 2026 cycle. For more information on the Seminoles’ offseason, check out Tomahawk Nation’s tracker .