ATLANTA, Ga. – Florida State senior Alex Steen always has a passionate cheering section whether the Seminoles are at home or on the road. His parents, Mary Beth and Tim, have been to every game this season. They’ve enjoyed both the warmth of Coral Gables and the snow at Syracuse and Notre Dame.

Games at home in the Donald L. Tucker Center on Florida State’s campus are an easy two-hour drive from their home in Panama City Beach. Other games, including the trips to central New York and Indiana in the dead of winter, are not as easy to get to.

The Seminoles’ game on Saturday at Noon at Georgia Tech will be special for the entire family, including Alex who will be announced in Florida State’s starting lineup for the 25^th time this season.

Special because his younger sister, Ashley, will have another opportunity to cheer on her big brother from behind the Seminoles’ team bench.

Special, too, because Ashley is a student at Georgia Tech.

The Seminoles’ game against the Yellow Jackets tips off at 12 Noon on the ACC Network with John Schriffen and Scott Williams on the call.

Jeff Culhane and former Seminole Blake Miles have the call live on the Seminole Sports Network and on Facebook Live on the Florida State Men’s Basketball Facebook page. Fans can also check out their Courtside Cam broadcast on the FSU MBB Facebook and X pages, the Seminoles’ YouTube channel, and on the Seminoles Unconquered app.

Ashley will be easy to find during Saturday’s game, as she’s decided to wear garnet while sitting in a sea of blue and gold in the student section at McCamish Pavilion.

“I will be repping FSU for the game,” said Ashley. “I debated wearing half and half, but at the end of the day I am rooting for his team, so I will likely wear garnet. I’ll just have to put back on my Georgia Tech jersey after the game.”

According to their parents, both Alex and Ashley are as competitive as they are smart.

While Alex excels on the basketball court, he has also earned success academically. He earned Academic All-American honors in 2024 and 2025 and was named to the NABC Academic Honors Court in 2025. Alex was named to the Florida State dean’s list during the fall semester.

Ashley is a biomedical engineering major with a pre-medical focus and is planning on minoring in artificial intelligence and machine learning. She’s planning on continuing her education at medical school and plans on becoming physician who advances clinical research in artificial intelligence and imaging-based diagnostic technologies.

“Ashley got most of the smarts in the family,” said Alex. “She’s always doing homework and she’s so impressive. We spend so many hours playing basketball, and it’s insane to look at how many hours she spends on her academic success.”

Both Ashley and Alex grew up playing hockey in their native Minnesota before gravitating towards basketball. Just as Alex’s career on the hardwood took off in high school, so did Ashley’s. She was a member of the girls’ varsity at Arnold High School in the panhandle of Florida.

“Both Alex and Ashley are very competitive and smart,” said Mary Beth. “While Ashley is very athletic she really excels in the academic realm. Cheering for Alex doesn’t really feel like a rivalry. I know she is proud of her brother and will be excited to see him play on Saturday.”

Ashley was in the stands at the Tucker Center in December as she watched her big brother earn a near double-double with 11 points in and nine rebounds in the Seminoles’ victory over Jacksonville.

Ashley, a second-year student at Georgia Tech, and Alex, who will earn his undergraduate degree from Florida State in August of 2026, have always been close.

Ashley has always considered Alex to be a protective older brother.

“I knew he was always looking out for me growing up,” said Ashley.  “But we definitely competed in everything from sports to school. I definitely won in some areas more than others.”

Ashley has always been Alex’s biggest fan.

“His sister is his biggest fan,” said Tim. “She also wanted to beat him at every sport-hockey, basketball being just two examples.

Alex and Ashley grew up in a household that included four siblings, with each one being as competitive as the others.

“Alex is a gym rat, and his determination to be dominant comes from his mom,” said Tim. “She has instilled a work ethic like no other. This family dynamic (which includes older brothers Mikey and Brandon) is just what he (Alex) needed to excel at a higher level.”

Alex has worked hard during the week to obtain extra tickets from his teammates as he expects more than 10 family and friends to be in attendance.

“I know a couple of aunts and uncles as well as some cousins will be there,” said Alex. “It’s a good amount  of family who will be there. I’ve had to ask a couple of teammates for extra tickets.  It will be a fun weekend seeing everyone.”

“We’ve been watching his games on the apartment TV,” said Ashley. “Some of my college friends went to his games last year when he played at Florida Southern, so he definitely has some Georgia Tech support.”

For two hours on Saturday, she’ll be a Yellow Jacket rooting for the Seminoles.

“When it’s my brother on the court, the game is personal,” said Ashley.