SUNRISE – When freshman Xavier Osceola suits up for the Florida State men’s basketball team, he’s playing for something bigger than the name on the front of his jersey.

He’s also playing for the name on the back of his jersey.

As the first Florida State basketball player who is a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Osceola joined head coach Luke Loucks’ first Seminole team during the Summer of 2025. Since his arrival on campus, he’s spent his time acclimating himself to the rigors of college life and learning the Seminoles’ playbook as he prepares with his teammates for the 2025-26 season.

Osceola and his Seminole teammates face UMass of the Mid-American Conference on Saturday at Noon at the Amerant Bank Arena in the AutoNation Orange Howl Classic. The game will be televised on the ACC Network with Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw on the call.

The game can also be heard on the Seminole Sports Network with Jeff Culhane and Ariya Massoudi.

While he won’t play during the 2025-26 season because of a medical redshirt, Osceola was with his Seminole teammates as they practiced at the Howard Tiger Recreation Center on the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Hollywood Reservation. He will also be on the bench as Florida State plays UMass.

The Seminoles’ game against the Minutemen has been designated as a “Seminole Heritage” game in tribute to Florida State University’s long-standing relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The color turquoise represents harmony, friendship and fellowship in the culture of many Native Americans. Florida State is currently one of a handful of schools that have regularly worn Nike’s turquoise N7 basketball jerseys, which help provide sports and physical activity programs to youth in Native American and Indigenous communities.

Osceola enjoyed a successful high school basketball career in south Florida. He graduated from the Nova Southeastern University School in 2025 where he served as the team captain during his senior season. Osceola’s 15.3 points per game and 5.2 assists per game averages earned him All-Broward County Honorable Mention honors as a senior.

Osceola scored his NSU career-high of 30 points against Naples High during his senior season and scored his career-high of 45 points at Calusa Prep as a junior. He set the Calusa school record for most points in a three-game stretch – 107 — with 32, 45, and 30 — and earned Second Team All-Conference honors in the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association in 2024.

Osceola’s adjustments to life as a college basketball player have come naturally.

“Playing against the length of my teammates and how quickly gaps close on the court have been my biggest adjustments,” said Osceola. “I have always worked to see the ball go through the hoop on offense and that’s something I’ll have to improve on every day.”

Osceola, according to Loucks, is working as hard as any of the players on the team to become a better player.

“Xavier really wants to improve and works at getting better each and every day,” said Loucks. “He fits in well with his teammates, really pays attention, wants to learn, and has a desire to become a better basketball player.”

While he is looking to become an important member of the Seminoles’ rotation, Osceola has quickly grown to understand the responsibility of being a member of the Seminole Tribe and wearing the Seminole uniform.

“Wearing the Seminoles name across my uniform means everything to me,” said Osceola. “It’s what I worked my whole life for, and it’s the reason why I wake up every day and push myself to be better than I was the day before.”

More than the legion of Seminole fans who will cheer for Osceola and his teammates this winter, his biggest fans are members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

“We are honored to have one of our young members play for Florida State University,” said STOF President of the Board of Directors Holly Tiger.  “This moment not only represents our ongoing partnership between FSU and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, but it also opens the door for other young Indigenous athletes who dream of competing on a national stage.

“Basketball is huge in Indian Country, and there is so much untapped talent across reservations nationwide. My hope is that Xavier’s achievement inspires more Native youth to pursue their dream — and that coaches and athletic directors look beyond the obvious, to recognize the incredible athletes in the smallest corners of our Tribal communities.”

Osceola has an incredibly supportive family and counts a large group of extended family members who are the pillars in his life that span generations. He counts his mom, Tasha Osceola, his grandmother, Virginia Osceola, and his grandfather, Joe Dan, as his biggest inspirations. His late grandfather, Joe Dan Osceola, was offered a scholarship to play football at Florida State in 1954. Joe Dan is a former President/Vice Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

“I have received immense support from my family,” said Osceola. “They continue to remind me that now is the time for me to work even harder.”

Loucks and his staff, who traveled to the Hollywood (Florida) based Seminole Tribe of Florida Reservation in early September, experienced the Seminole tradition on Osceola’s official visit to campus in June.

It was then that Osceola’s grandmother, Virginia, gave a lesson on the incredible history of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

“Coach Loucks invited me and my family into the team’s inner circle,” said Osceola. “Right there on the symbol of the Seminole, she gave a quick history lesson on what it is exactly that we represent. Hearing her words directly from the source was incredibly moving.”

It was not the last time Osceola will beam with pride while playing on a basketball court emblazoned with the Seminoles’ iconic symbol.

Osceola will earn one of the greatest thrills of his life as he puts his turquoise Florida State uniform on against UMass on December 13

“I honestly can’t wait,” said Osceola. “It will mean a lot to me as an individual and I know it will mean even more to my people. I can’t wait to represent not only my family but my whole tribe.”

Xavier Osceola fully understands that he is playing for the Florida State Seminoles and something bigger than himself.