The Florida State men's basketball team got some great news on Saturday when former University of Albany (N.Y.) combo guard David Nichols announced he would be signing with Florida State after an official visit that weekend. Nichols, a 6-foot, 190-pound guard who chose FSU over Missouri and several other suitors, will graduate with a degree in communications this summer, which means he will be eligible to play immediately with the Seminoles. Nichols' arrival is crucial for FSU following the recent departure of point guard C.J. Walker, who has announced he will transfer to Ohio State. Nichols, who averaged 17.9 points as a sophomore and 14.6 points as a junior (David Nichols' bio page at the University of Albany), also is an exceptional student. He carries a 3.9 grade-point average and is graduating with his bachelor's degree in just three years. He will pursue his master's while at FSU. Nichols spoke with Warchant's Michael Langston this week about his decision and what he hopes to bring to the 'Noles.

Q: First of all, I'm sure it was an exciting weekend for you, visiting Tallahassee, meeting the team and then committing to FSU. How excited are you to join the Seminoles' program? A: It feels good. It was a real family environment down there. You could tell how close the team is and the staff is and the athletics program as a whole. Q: Did you kind of already know going into that visit that Florida State was where you wanted to go? A: There had to be a certain comfort level for me to visit a school, and that's where I was in the process in setting up visits. But I knew if I was comfortable I wouldn't be scared to commit on my visit. It was a good fit in terms of scheme and style of play, and I feel the need to be here at FSU. They definitely made me feel wanted and broke it down in a way that I could understand what they are doing for the team next year. Q: In watching some of your film from Albany, it's obvious you did many things as a guard for Albany. But for fans who haven't seen your game, how would you describe your strengths as a player. A: I think I can score in all three levels as far as getting to the rim, mid-range and the three. I like to get in the passing lanes [on defense] and cause turnovers that way. I thrive in transition in making good decisions while in transition."