Chris Singleton, SF

What started out as a sensational regular season for Singleton and the Seminoles, it all came to a temporary halt in February, when the two-time Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year underwent surgery after being hurt against Virginia. He returned to action in time for the NCAA Tournament, leading the team to a berth in the Sweet Sixteen.

The Seminoles did ride Singleton's coattails to the NCAA Tournament in 2011, ending a drought of eighteen seasons of not playing in that prestigious tourney. FSU would then get hit with another "whammy," as the forward announced that he was bypassing his final year of college eligibility to remain in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Singleton's ability to crash the boards on both ends of the court saw him become the 31st player to join FSU's prestigious 500-rebound club, ranking 21st on that list with 586. He is the school's fourth-leading shot blocker, knocking down 136 attempts in just three seasons, as his 48 blocks as a sophomore rank seventh and his 47 blocks as a freshman rank eighth on the Seminoles' annual record chart.

Singleton also closed out his career ranked eighth in school history with 180 steals. His 71 thefts in 2009-10 tied Charlie Ward (1990-91) and Kenny Thompson (1996-97) for 10th on the Seminoles' season-record list. He also scored 975 points during his career (10.263 points per game) and handed out 140 assists.

Singleton attended Cherokee High School during his first three prep seasons, averaging 13.0 points and 11.7 rebounds as a freshman. He posted numbers of a career-high 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds as a sophomore, leading Cherokee to its first state tournament appearance in 25 years. The following year, he averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocked shots per game.

During his senior year, Singleton transferred to Dunwoody High School, leading the team to a 27-4 record and the state Class 3A semifinals. He averaged a double-double of 21.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots, earning All-State and All-Region V honors, as the team went undefeated until reaching the regional.

Singleton was the top recruit from Florida State's 2008 class. He was one of just two FSU players to start 34 games, as he averaged 8.1 points (fifth on the team), 4.9 rebounds (third), 1.5 steals (second) and 1.3 blocked shots (second), earning Freshman All-American honorable mention. He helped lead the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament and to the first appearance in the ACC Tournament championship game in school history.

As a sophomore, Singleton earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year. He became only the fifth player in league history to finish in the top five in the conference statistics in both blocked shots (48) and steals (71) in the same season. He averaged a 10.2 points (second on the team), and set career-highs with 7.0 rebounds (first), 2.2 steals (first), 1.5 blocked shots (second) and 2.2 assists per game (third) in leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season.

Singleton was again named to the All-ACC team and chosen the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010-11. He started 25-of-28 games, leading the team in scoring (13.1 points per game) and rebounds (6.8 rebounds per game), as he finished second on the squad with 41 blocked shots and 55 steals while coming up with 33 assists.

Singleton's willingness to play defense allowed the Seminoles to rank as the nation's best defense during his career. FSU ranked first nationally and first in the ACC in field goal percentage defense in both 2010 and 2011. He helped Florida State to 70 wins in his three seasons as a Seminole -- one off of the all-time record for wins in the three-year span by FSU. He also helped lead Florida State to three NCAA Tournament (2009, 2010, 2011), to the Sweet 16 of the 2011 NCAA Tournament and to the championship game of the 2009 ACC Tournament.

This marked the first time the Seminoles had appeared in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments since the 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons, the first time FSU had advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament since 1993 and the first time in school history the Seminoles had advanced to the ACC Tournament championship game.

With Singleton in the line-up the Seminoles were the third winningest team in ACC play behind only Duke and North Carolina during his three-year career. Florida State was ranked No. 19 in the final coaches' poll in 2011 and No. 22 in the final Associated Press in 2009. With their forward in the Seminoles' line-up, FSU ranked as high as 16th in the nation during his freshman season, and as high as 18th in the nation during his sophomore and junior seasons.

Positives: Not a great long-range shooter for a small forward and lacks the ideal size of a power forward, but has the wing span, defensive skills and agility to earn minutes at both spots … Best fits in an up-tempo attack, running the court well and is quick to get back to disrupt action in the passing lane, ranking eighth in school history with 180 steals, despite playing in just 95 games … Not a great ball-handler, but has good court awareness which allow him to keep his turnover rate at a low level … Not considered an offensive presence, but has eliminated the hitch in his release, slowly improving his consistency and shot selection (made a career-high 43.4 percent of his field goal chances as a junior and improved his perimeter shooting, connecting on 36.8 percent of his treys after making just 29.7 percent the previous season) … A bit top heavy, but has good upper body power, which allows him to crash the boards at a decent rate (21st in school annals with 586 rebounds), as he is an explosive leaper who also uses his long arms to contest shots (fourth in FSU annals with 136 blocks) … His court speed makes him a better fit in transition, as he is very capable of finishing above the rim … Gets a pretty powerful push driving opponents out of the paint to set up under the offensive glass … When he sets his feet (not consistent), he has the ability to connect with his post-up attempts … Very good at anticipating the slasher's moves and has good length and elevation to deliver quick put-backs working around the offensive boards … Stays low in his stance and keeps his hands active to lock down bigger forwards on the defensive end … Might be a perfect fit coming off the bench, as he has enough skills to defend at multiple positions (proved to be very effective switching out to challenge speedy shooting guards on the perimeter and is one of the better defenders on the pick-and-roll) … … Has a large wingspan, minimal body fat and an impressive standing reach … Times his leaps well and uses his reach efficiently in attempts to block or alter shots … Shows good quickness to play in an up tempo attack, getting up and down the court with good balance and body control … Has the loose hips and mobility to get out on the perimeter as a defender, doing an excellent job of keeping his body in front of his opponent to prevent slashes to the basket … Has a developing mid-range shot from 15-feet out, when he sets his feet properly … Shows good hands fielding the ball and is very comfortable working in the high post … Does a good job coming off the low block to get up or under the opponent to execute a nice baby hook shot … Has the loose hips to deliver the turnaround shot and enough quickness to surprise a lethargic defender and drive to the basket … Quick getting to the basket to help on put-backs and has the big hands to combat for the offensive rebound … Best when scoring on power moves, as in order to play small forward in the NBA, he will need to develop some finesse moves … Has the length and release point to get his jumpers over the defender (when he sets his feet and squares his body).

Negatives: Built more in the lines of a wing rather than his collegiate position -- power forward, but does not seem to have the touch around the basket or the consistency shooting from the perimeter to handle an offensive regimen from the three-spot … Is not a great ball handler and wings need to be capable of putting the ball on the floor for at least a dribble or two, which would allow him to develop better creativity with his shot than he has shown in the past … To his credit, he made it back to the court later in the year after missing a handful of game when he fractured a bone in his foot that required surgery in mid-February, but will need a clean medical during pre-draft camps to ease concerns a team might have about the injury … Has decent shooting mechanics, but must improve his touch (ball can go flat) and demonstrate better consistency (.419 field goal percentage is even a low rate for a guard, much less a combo forward) … Lacks explosiveness running the court and his lack of agility changing direction prevents him from consistently slashing to the basket, a requirement for a three-type … Most forwards have a solid back-to-the-basket game, but he has sloppy footwork and balance driving to the basket, making his shots difficult to connect … Because of that limitation, he will revert to taking off the dribble jumpers, when he should be driving to the basket instead … Bit top heavy with his frame, as his legs appear weak and skinny (needs to add lower body strength) … When shooting from the perimeter, he takes a lot of off-balanced shots, generating a release that is too high over his head or angled too much away from his body (shot 29.7 percent from three-point range as a sophomore) … When he tries to rush his shot, he fails to set his feet and square his body, which leads to an ineffective stroke (flat and with low trajectory) … Has good ability to draw contact on the way to the rim, but his marginal free throw shooting will usually negate his opportunities from the foul line (shot 59.2 percent from the foul line during his career, including 49.6 percent as a sophomore).

Compares to: SHANE BATTIER, Memphis Grizzlies -- Like Battier, Singleton has great defensive skills. Both are effective rebounders and excellent shot blockers with good length and elevation. The FSU product is slowly developing a mid-range jump shot, but he's never going to develop into an offensive scoring option. He must do a better job of maintaining proper shooting technique, as he will push the ball and has a very erratic release point. He is like most forwards in this draft --- caught between both forward positions, but he will give his future team decent minutes at both slots.

Singleton was honored again in 2011 with the Dave Cowens Chairman of the Boards, the Charlie Ward Best Defensive Player Award and the award as the Seminoles' top three-point shooter … Voted as the Atlantic Coast Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in a vote by the 12 ACC head coaches, as he was the only player voted to the All-ACC Defensive team by each of the league's head coach, earning him the distinction of being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches and the staffs … Earned ACC Player of the Week honors on Nov. 23 and Nov. 16 … Missed six games during his junior season after suffering a broken foot vs. Virginia (2/12/11) … Returned to help lead the Seminoles to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, as he played in all three of the Seminoles' games in the post-season … Florida State was once again the top defensive team in the nation and the ACC as it ranked in the nation's top 25 for field goal percentage defense (first, .636), blocked shots (fifth, 6.0 blocks per game), steals (24th, 8.5 steals per game) … Led the team in scoring (367 points, 13.107 points per game), rebounding (191, 6.821 rebounds per game) and steals (55, 1.964 steals per game) for the second consecutive season and only the fifth player to lead the Seminoles in all three categories in consecutive seasons in school history … Totaled career best totals for field goals made (124), field goals attempted (286), free throws made (84), free throws attempted (126) and free throw shooting percentage (.667).

Named to the All-Tournament team at the Diamond Head Classic as he averaged 17.0 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game as the Seminoles earned a 2-1 record in the tournament as he led Florida State to wins over Hawaii on its home court and No. 15 Baylor, as the Seminoles' only loss in the tournament was the national finalist Butler by three points (67-64) … Totaled his career high of 30 points in Florida State's victory over Gardner Webb as he was nearly perfect from the field (10 of 11) and the free throw line (seven of 10) and was perfect from 3-point range (three of three) … Led the Seminoles with four games as at least 20 points scored (22 at UNC Greensboro, 30 vs. Gardner Webb, 20 at Auburn and 22 at Virginia Tech) … Totaled a team high and career best seven double doubles and one triple double (22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals at UNC Greensboro) … His triple was only the third triple double in school history and first since Bob Sura vs. North Carolina State on Jan. 15, 1995 … Made a career-high 10 field goals and a career high seven free throws in scoring 30 points in the Seminoles' win over Gardner Webb … Totaled four consecutive double doubles (including one triple double) vs. UNC Greensboro (22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals), Gardner Webb (30 points and 12 rebounds), at Florida International (14 points and 13 rebounds) and Mercer (10 points and 13 rebounds) in four consecutive Seminole wins early in the season … His second career ACC double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds came in the Seminoles' win in his hometown of Atlanta vs. Georgia Tech … Tallied 13 points, three rebounds, three blocked shots and one steal in 28 minutes as the Seminoles defeated Clemson to win their ACC opener in December, 75-69, as he had seven points in the second half as the Seminoles registered the come-from-behind 75-69 win after trailing at halftime. All seven of his second half points came in the final 8:38 of the game and helped Florida State recover from as much as a six point deficit in the second half … In the Georgia Tech clash, he scored a double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds to go along with one blocked shot and two steals in Florida State's win in its only game of the season vs. the Yellow Jackets, as he was nearly perfect from the field (five of six, .833) and the free throw line (five of eight) in the Seminoles' 72-63 win on the road in Atlanta (Feb. 10). The game was played in front of countless NBA scouts and numerous members of his family and inner circle. Singleton scored scored five of Florida State's first 17 points as the Seminoles jumped to an insurmountable 17-2 lead with just over eight minutes played in the game … Sat out the Maryland clash with a mid foot sprain … He played in Florida State's game at North Carolina before injuring his foot and missing the Seminoles' game vs. the Tar Heels, as his 15 points came on six of 10 shooting from the field and two made 3-point shots … Scored a team high 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the Seminoles' 71-59 loss on the road to Virginia Tech … Made his return to the court after just five weeks of rehabilitation for his injured right foot with a five point, four rebound, 1 blocked shot and one steal performance in the Seminoles win over Texas A&M, 57-50, in the first round of Florida State's third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance … In the Virginia Commonwealth clash Singleton cored a near double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds in the Seminoles' Sweet 16 loss to VCU.

Selected the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and named to the ACC All-Defensive Team, as Singleton received the most votes among the five players on the All-Defensive team …

Was the second consecutive Florida State player to be named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as he followed in the defensive footsteps of All-American Toney Douglas who earned the award in 2009 … Recipient of the Dave Cowens Chairman of the Boards and Charlie Ward Defensive Player of the Year award at the Seminoles' annual honors banquet at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season … Earned All-ACC third-team honors as he ranked in the top 12 of five different categories: steals (first, 2.2 steals per game), blocked shots (fifth, 1.5 blocks per game), defensive rebounds (eighth, 4.9 rebounds per game), minutes played (10th, 31.4 mpg) and rebounding (12th, 7.0 rebounds per game), as he became only the fifth player in ACC history to finish in the top five in the conference statistics in both blocked shots and steals in the same season in 2009-10 … Singleton joined Wake Forest's Josh Howard (2002-03), Duke's Shane Battier (1999-00 and 2000-01) and Duke's Christian Laettner (1990-91) as the only players in ACC history to finish in the top five in both statistical categories in the same season … Averaged a 10.2 points (second on the team), a career-high 7.0 rebounds (first), a career-high 2.2 steals (first), a career-high 1.5 blocked shots (second) and a career-high 2.2 assists per game (third) in leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season … FSU's leading rebounder as a sophomore, he established career-bests for three-point field goals made (35), 3-point field goals attempted (118), offensive rebounds (66), defensive rebounds (157), total rebounds (223), rebounds per game (7.0 rebounds per game), assists (70), blocked shots (48), steals (71), total points (326) and points per game (10.2 points per game) … His defensive effort keyed the Seminoles' defense that led the nation and the ACC in field goal percentage defense (.377) and was first in the ACC in both scoring defense (60.4 points allowed per game) and blocked shots (6.3 blocks per game).

Named Freshman All-American and All-ACC honorable mention as he averaged 8.1 points (fifth on the team), 4.9 rebounds (third), 1.5 steals (second) and 1.3 blocked shots (second) as he averaged 26.9 minutes played per game (second) … Helped lead the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament and to the first appearance in the ACC Tournament championship game in school history … Ranked second on the team with 34 three-point field goals made and was second on the team with 65 offensive rebounds … One of only four Seminoles to play in all 35 games and one of only two who started at least 34 games … Ranked 10th in the ACC among all players with 54 steals and a 1.5 steals per game average and was second in the league among freshman with only Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert (64 steals/ 2.1 steals per game) finishing ahead of Singleton among all conference freshman … Ranked ninth among all players in the ACC with 47 blocked shots and a 1.3 blocked shots per game average … Was the ACC's fourth leading blocked shot artist among all league freshmen … Also ranked fifth in the ACC among all freshmen with his 8.1 points per game scoring average, fifth among ACC freshman with his 4.9 rebounds per game average, fourth with his 26.9 minutes played per game average and tied for third with two double doubles … Only the third freshman in school history to earn a double-double in his career debut with 12 points and 17 rebounds as the Seminoles defeated Jacksonville (Nov. 15) in the 2008-09 season opener.

SUMMER LEAGUE BASKETBALL

Pulled down seven rebounds in 13 minutes played in the 2008 McDonald's All-American game played at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin … Led the East Team to a 107-102 victory in the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game on March 26, 2008 … Totaled six points on two made 3-point baskets in leading the Black squad to a 181-121 victory over the Gold Squad in the Derby Classic … Finalist in the two-on-two competition at the 2008 Derby Festival … Named as the Most Valuable Player at the adidas Super 64 Tournament in the summer prior to his senior season … Played as a member of the super-strong AUU team - the Atlanta Celtics … Led the Celtics to the championship of the Super 64 tournament with 15 points, six assists and six rebounds in the title game in the event … Led the Celtics to the semifinals at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in Chapel Hill in 2007.

In 95 games at Florida State, Singleton scored 975 points (10.263 points per game), as he connected on 336-of-802 field goals (41.9 percent), 104-of-315 three-pointers (33.0 percent) and 199-of-336 free throws (59.2 percent) … Ranks 21st in school history with 586 rebounds, becoming the 31st Seminole to join the team's prestigious 500-Rebound Club … His 136 blocked shots rank fourth in school annals, topped by only Rodney Dobard (240; 1989-93), Corey Louis (197; 1994-98) and Andre Reid (160; 1990-95) … His 48 blocks in 2009-10 rank seventh and his 47 blocks in 2008-09 rank eighth on the school's season-record chart … Ranks eighth in school annals with 180 steals, including 71 as a sophomore, that tied both Charlie Ward (1990-91) and Kerry Thompson (1996-97) for tenth on the school's annual record list … Is the only FSU player to rank on the school's all-time record list for both steals and blocked shots … Finished his career ranked 25th in Atlantic Coast Conference history with his 1.89 steals per game average … Earned a triple double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals in Florida State's victory over UNC Greensboro (11/14/10 - the third triple double in school history and the first triple double in ACC history that included steals … One of nine McDonald's High School All-American's to have played for Florida State joining Irving Thomas (1985), David White (1987), Douglas Edwards (1989), Corey Louis (1994), Lamarr Greer (1994), Randall Jackson (1995), Anthony Richardson (2001), Von Wafer (2003) and Michael Snaer (2009).

Attended Cherokee (Canton, Ga.) High School during his first three prep seasons, averaging 13.0 points and 11.7 rebounds as a freshman … Posted numbers of a career-high 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds as a sophomore, leading Cherokee to its first state tournament appearance in 25 years … The following year, he averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocked shots per game … During his senior year, Singleton transferred to Dunwoody High School, leading the team to a 27-4 record and the state Class 3A semifinals … Averaged a double-double of 21.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots, earning All-State and All-Region V honors, as the team went undefeated until reaching the regionals … Selected Florida State over Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Louisville, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

Social Science major … Son of Stephanie Langston and Carl Singleton of Estill, South Carolina … Born 11/21/89 … Resides in Canton, Ga.