Five-Star Josua Raymond Recruit Shocks College Basketball World: Turns Down $6.5 Million NIL Deal, Decommits from Vanderbilt Commodores Football, Chooses Florida State Seminoles Over Ole Miss, Duke, and Texas
In a stunning turn of events that’s reverberating across both the college basketball and football landscapes, five-star dual-sport phenom Josua Raymond has made a bold and unexpected decision: he has officially decommitted from Vanderbilt football, turned down a $6.5 million NIL offer, and committed to Florida State University—for basketball.
Raymond, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound athletic marvel out of Houston, Texas, had long been considered one of the top tight end prospects in the country. Rated as a five-star by nearly every recruiting service, he had committed to Vanderbilt’s football program early in 2024, drawn by their academic prestige and promises of a featured offensive role. However, rumors of his growing passion for basketball had swirled quietly in recent months.
Those whispers turned into a roar when Raymond stunned scouts, coaches, and fans alike by announcing on social media that he was flipping his focus to basketball—and that he would be committing to Florida State for the 2025-26 season.
“I’ve loved football my whole life,” Raymond said in his statement. “But basketball is where my heart is. I need to follow what I truly love and bet on myself.”
The most jaw-dropping part of Raymond’s decision is that he reportedly turned down a staggering $6.5 million NIL package—an offer believed to come from a collective tied to one of the SEC’s top football programs, likely Ole Miss or Texas. The NIL deal would have made him one of the highest-earning high school-to-college athletes in football history. But insiders say Raymond’s decision was not about the money.
“He’s the kind of kid who doesn’t chase the check,” said one recruiting analyst. “He believes he can make it to the NBA, and he wants to earn it on the court.”
Florida State beat out Ole Miss, Duke, and Texas, all of whom had been aggressively pursuing Raymond after word of his basketball interest spread. Duke, in particular, had been seen as the frontrunner given their blue-blood basketball status, but Florida State’s recent success in developing long, athletic forwards and getting them to the NBA proved to be the decisive factor.
Head coach Leonard Hamilton called Raymond “a program-changing player” in a statement. “He brings an elite football mentality, unmatched physical tools, and a hunger to prove himself at the highest level.”
Raymond is expected to suit up for the Seminoles as a power forward, though his versatility could see him playing multiple positions.
In an age where NIL money and brand deals increasingly sway decisions, Josua Raymond’s move is a powerful reminder that passion and purpose still drive some of the nation’s top athletes.
Florida State fans are rejoicing—and the college sports world is still catching its breath.
