Six former Florida State basketball players have filed a lawsuit against Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton, accusing him of failing to deliver on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) payments totaling $250,000 per player. The lawsuit, which seeks $1.5 million in damages, alleges that Hamilton promised the players the funds from his “business partners” but failed to fulfill his commitment.
The legal filing, first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, details how the former players—Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley—boycotted practices last season in protest over the missing payments.
The players claim that their decision to temporarily halt participation was prompted by repeated delays in receiving the promised funds.
According to the lawsuit, the players provided text message exchanges as evidence of Hamilton and Will Cowen—an executive with one of Florida State’s NIL collectives—discussing the payments.
These collectives are typically responsible for raising and distributing NIL funds to student-athletes. The text messages allegedly show Hamilton assuring the players that the funds were forthcoming.
The complaint also alleges that after the players staged their initial walkout during practice, Hamilton met with them and promised the payments would be delivered the following week.
Based on this renewed assurance, the players agreed to participate in upcoming games, abandoning plans to boycott further events. Despite these promises, the players claim they never received the payments.
Florida State’s NIL collective structure, like many others nationwide, is designed to provide opportunities for athletes to earn money through endorsements and sponsorships. However, this lawsuit highlights what the plaintiffs describe as a significant breach of trust within the system.
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Currently, none of the six players involved in the lawsuit are part of Florida State’s roster. The team, under Hamilton’s leadership, is off to a 9-4 start this season but has struggled in ACC play, with a 0-2 conference record.
This legal dispute underscores the challenges universities, collectives, and coaches face in managing the evolving landscape of NIL.
If the claims are upheld, the case could set a precedent for how NIL agreements are handled in college sports and raise questions about the accountability of coaches and collectives in ensuring athletes receive their promised compensation.
