Xavier Osceola will become the first member of the Seminole Tribe to play Division I basketball
Francisco Garcia, Staff Writer
| FSView
When redshirt freshman point guard Xavier Osceola steps onto the court for Florida State, it will be bigger than basketball; he’ll be carrying history on his shoulders. Osceola is believed to be the first member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (D1) basketball.
Beyond the court, Osceola’s place in history carries immense weight. For the Seminole Tribe of Florida, his journey represents not just an individual achievement but a cultural one — FSU has long embraced its ties with the Seminole Tribe, but for the first time, a tribal member is competing for the ‘Noles’ basketball team.
“Every time I walk in the gym, I definitely carry a sense of pride with me,” Osceola said in an interview with the FSView. “Just really proud to represent not only me and my family but also my people. Not just Seminoles but Native Americans all across the country.”
Osceola’s road to this moment is paved by a multitude of accomplishments. A graduate of Nova Southeastern University School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he was a point guard who averaged 15.3 points, 5.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game as a senior, earning him all-Broward County honorable mention from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Osceola attended Calusa Prep in his junior year, where he averaged 16.5 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He also set the school record for most points in a three-game stretch with 107. His performance earned him Second-Team All-Conference honors in the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association in 2024.
That success followed him onto the national stage as well. In 2025, the 6-foot-1 point guard helped lead the Unconquered team to a 6-1 record at the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) in Phoenix. This invitational has been established as one of the most prestigious all-Native American basketball tournaments in North America, with over 2,400 competing. Osceola’s squad went undefeated in pool play and advanced to the round of 16 before being eliminated.
Now with the Seminoles, he’s facing competition unlike any he has before, but he embraces the challenge.
“It’s been kind of difficult,” Osceola said. “The length, the speed and the processing, which as a shorter guard has to be a lot faster.”
For Osceola, the opportunity to represent his heritage at one of the nation’s top athletic programs is something he’s motivated by. He also mentioned that the competitive elements are what have helped him get better.
“Coach [Loucks] is very good, there are very good competitive elements here,” Osceola said. “I feel like I’ve already gotten a lot better since I first got here.”
The pride Osceola feels representing his heritage started with the personal mission to inspire his younger family members. After signing with the Garnet and Gold, he came to understand that his reach can go far beyond them.
“It just started off as me trying to inspire my little brothers, then to my reservation,” Osceola said. “Once I signed here, I really saw the impact I made. Not only with my family but with my tribe and to other Native kids across the country.”
For Osceola, being the first Seminole to compete in D1 basketball is also a continuation of family legacy. His late grandfather, Joe Dan Osceola, was offered a football scholarship to Florida State and later served as President and vice-chairman of the Seminole Tribe. Now, Xavier hopes to honor that legacy by forging his own path.
Osceola stays grounded, trying to be better than he was when he first arrived in Tallahassee — a mindset that will guide him throughout his collegiate career.
“I wear this jersey with a lot of pride, being the first Seminole, that’s something I try to remember. I’m glad to be here and I can’t wait,” Osceola said.
Francisco Garcia is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.