Linc Darner Announces Men's Basketball 2025-2026 Incoming Class
TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa head men's basketball coach Linc Darner has announced his group of seven incoming players, set to join the Spartans' roster for the 2025-2026 season.
Among the incoming players are five transfers and two high school signings. The high school players include Malachi Martis and Carlin Parker. The transfers include Camden McCormick (UC-San Diego), Trent Scott (Morehead State), Ben Southerland (Wright State), Mateusz Szpin (Montgomery Coll.), and Justin Taylor (Coffeyville CC/High Point).
The Spartans' new class combines impressive size, athleticism, versatility, and strong character, setting a dynamic foundation for the season ahead.
Linc Darner on the Incoming Class and Recruitment Process
"I'm excited about the class that we brought in. We've got guys that can do multiple things and guys who can play multiple positions, which is a big thing for us. I think we brought in some guys who are going to help us handle the ball better. We brought in some athleticism, some size. With just one senior on the roster, we're a very young team overall. Which is amazing in the transfer portal day and age. It gives a good chance in the next few years to build a team that can compete at the highest level. The great thing about our guys is that they are all very high-character guys, and I think all these guys will come in and help us get to where we want to go."
Malachi Martis | 6-6 | 210 | F | Fr. | Cayhill, St Maarten | Windermere Prep.
Malachi Martis, a 6'6", 210-pound forward from Cayhill, St. Maarten, joins the Spartans after competing at Windermere Preparatory School under head coach Brian Hoff. He played a key role in helping Windermere Prep capture a state championship as a freshman and return to the state title game as a junior. His combination of size, athleticism, and versatility made him a consistent impact player throughout his high school career.
Off the court, Martis plans to pursue a degree in business management. He now brings his winning background and frontcourt presence to the University of Tampa as he begins his collegiate career.
"Malachi spent a weekend playing AAU with my son, and I was able to see him there. He played at a really good high school in Windermere Prep. He's very well coached. He unfortunately started his senior year out with a knee injury and missed the first half of the season. He's a high motor guy who can play inside out, a physical guy, which was something we needed more of on the team. He's going to be a great fit with how he can get out, run, trap, and move."
Camden McCormick | 6-3 | 190 | G | Jr. | San Diego, Calif. | UC-San Diego
Camden McCormick, a 6'3", 190-pound guard from San Diego, Calif., redshirted during the 2024–25 season after previously showcasing his versatility as a sophomore in 2023–24, where he posted career highs of 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in single games.
At Francis W. Parker School, McCormick was a two-time All-CIF selection (2021, 2022) and earned Coastal League Player of the Year and Parker MVP honors in 2022. That season, he averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists while recording 15 double-doubles and a triple-double, helping lead the Lancers to a Coastal League championship.
With his scoring ability, rebounding strength, and playmaking skills, McCormick is expected to make an immediate impact in the Spartans' backcourt.
Linc Darner on Camden McCormick
"Camden's a kid who is coming from San Diego and redshirted this past year. The thing that really stuck out when we watched him on film was his assist-to-turnover ratio; he had a very high assist-to-turnover ratio. To beat some of the teams in the league that we play, you can't turn the ball over, and he'll bring that. He can score the basketball; he's an attacker. He's a little bit like Kaden (Froebe) was this past year for us."
Carlin Parker | 5-10 | 170 | G | Fr. | Pawleys Island, SC | Charlotte Country Day
Carlin Parker, a 5'10", 170-pound guard, joins the Spartans as a relentless defender and high-energy presence on both ends of the floor. Known for his team-first approach, he takes pride in pressuring opponents, making smart offensive decisions, and creating opportunities for his teammates while capitalizing on open looks. Parker competed at Charlotte Country Day School under head coach Dave Carrier, where he earned Second Team All-Conference honors as both a sophomore and junior.
Off the court, he plans to major in Entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa. Parker's defensive intensity, playmaking ability, and unselfish style will be valuable assets to the Spartans.
"Carlin came to our elite camp and showed interest and wanted to come to school here. He's coming here as a walk-on on but I think he's going to bring a lot to the table. A guy that can really get up, pressure the ball, and push the ball in our system."
Trent Scott | 6-4 | 190 | G | Jr. | Tampa, Fla. | Morehead State
Trent Scott, a 6'4", 190-pound guard from Tampa, Fla., transfers to the University of Tampa from Morehead State University, where he was part of the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference championship team. As a freshman in 2022–23, he appeared in 33 games and helped the Eagles reach the NIT (National Invitation Tournament), highlighted by a first-round win over Clemson. After an early-season injury in 2023–24, he returned as a redshirt sophomore in 2024–25, playing in 25 games. Off the court, he was named to the Dean's List and the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
At Alonso High School, Scott was a two-time Western Conference American Division First Team honoree. He was named Division Player of the Year as a junior and Hillsborough County Player of the Year as a senior, finishing his career with more than 1,000 points. He also set school records as the all-time leader in charges taken and assists.
Scott brings a winning pedigree, versatility, and championship experience to the Spartans' roster.
"Trent's a local kid who played at Alonzo High School here and was a very good high school player. He's a guy who can play multiple positions. He can play the point, he can play the wing, and he can guard multiple positions. He's going to give us speed, athleticism, and a very high knowledge of the game. We're excited he decided to come back home to play his last two years here."
Ben Southerland | 6-7 | 215 | F | Jr. | Cincinnati, Ohio | Wright State
Ben Southerland, a 6'7" 215-pound forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, joins the Spartans after competing at Wright State University and Liberty University. At Liberty during the 2023–24 season, he shot 45.7 percent from the field, including 33 percent from three-point range, while adding 39 rebounds, 29 of them defensive.
Southerland had a standout career at Sycamore High School, earning All-State First Team honors as a senior, along with First Team All-Conference and All-District recognition as a junior. He surpassed 1,000 career points before moving on to prep school, where he averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game on 50.6 percent shooting.
Southerland's scoring ability and versatility position him as a key addition to the Spartans' lineup.
Linc Darner on Ben Southerland
"I had the opportunity to watch Ben play quite a bit in high school when I was at Ball State. He played in one of the best AAU programs in the country, a team that was very well coached. He has a great understanding of the game, he can shoot the basketball, pass the ball, and understands cutting and moving."
Mateusz Szpin | 6-8 | 215 | F | Jr. | Warsaw, Poland | Montgomery Coll.
Mateusz Szpin, a 6'8", 215-pound forward from Warsaw, Poland, transfers to the Spartans from Montgomery College, bringing valuable JUCO experience and size to the frontcourt.
In the 2024–25 season, Szpin recorded 335 rebounds, 50 assists, 27 steals, and 46 blocks, showcasing his versatility and impact on both ends of the floor. He has also proven to be reliable at the line, shooting 82.4 percent from the free-throw stripe during the 2022–23 campaign.
With his combination of size, efficiency, and all-around production, his presence adds depth and versatility to Tampa's inside game.
"Mati played junior college basketball and averaged a double-double. He's going to bring some size, some rebounding, athleticism, and can get out and run. He's going to play extremely hard. He has a very high motor, a motor that will never stop. I think he'll be a great player that could be up on the ball, could be running and trapping, and causing a little havoc, and he can also step out and shoot the basketball."
Justin Taylor | 6-2 | 190 | G | Jr. | Charlotte, NC | Coffeyville CC/High Point University
Justin Taylor, a 6'2", 190-pound guard from Charlotte, N.C., joins the Spartans after competing at Coffeyville Community College and High Point University. In the 2024–2025 season at Coffeyville, he averaged 11.5 points per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from three-point range. He finished the season with 85 rebounds—71 of them defensive—along with 88 assists.
A graduate of Carmel Christian School, Taylor excelled both on the court and in the classroom, earning Summa Cum Laude honors in 2021. As a senior, he led Carmel Christian to a 25-2 record and a runner-up finish in the North Carolina Private School 4A State Championship. Over his high school career, he surpassed the 1,500-point milestone, cementing his reputation as a proven scorer.
Taylor's combination of experience, leadership, and offensive versatility will be a valuable addition to the Spartans' backcourt.
"Coach Dexter (Dexter Gooding) and I had the opportunity to work with Justin at High Point University. The year he was there, we spent a lot of time in the gym with him. He's a high character kid. Started out at High Point, then went to Coffeyville, which is one of the best junior colleges in the country. He had a great coach out there and a very good year. We were excited when he reached out to us with an interest in coming here for his last two years. He's a guy who can play multiple positions, has a high understanding of the game. Great at handling the ball and passing the ball, and strong defensively."