Linc Darner Announces Men's Basketball Incoming Class
TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa head men's basketball coach Linc Darner has announced his group of six incoming players, comprising the first full offseason class for the Spartan head coach.
Among the incoming players are two transfers and four high school signings. The high school players include Ryan Blount, Kyler Lamb, B.J. Schaeffer, and Grady Schwartz. The transfers include Kaden Froebe (Missouri S&T) and Amarion Nimmers (Indian Hills CC/Iowa).
Linc Darner on Incoming Class
"With this class, we wanted to bring in and identify guys that have come from winning programs and understand what it takes to win. These guys will help to continue to build our culture with their dedication, work ethic, and sacrifice it takes to win."
"We added four high school guys, Kyler won two state championships, Ryan and Grady were a game away from getting to Lakeland, and then B.J., made an excellent run in the Georgia state playoffs. Kaden led Missouri S&T to the verge of an NCAA tournament berth. Amarion played at one of the best JUCO's in the country, and they made it to the final four. Each of these guys coming in can do different things, and play multiple positions. Most importantly, they have all been a part of winning cultures."
Ryan Blount | 6-6 | 205 | G | Fr. | Oviedo, Fla. | Rockledge HS
Ryan Blount, a guard standing at 6'6" and weighing 205 pounds, recently graduated from Rockledge High School. He previously attended Oviedo High School from 2020 to 2023. In his senior year at Rockledge, he led his team to a 23-8 record, averaging 27.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He connected on 87 three-pointers, shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc.
A three-year letterwinner, Ryan played under coach Colin Kearns. His senior year, he set the school's single-season scoring record with 845 points and ranked first in Florida for the most field goals made, totaling 306. His performance earned him numerous accolades, including First-Team All-State, Florida Today Player of the Year, two-time District Player of the Year, Brevard Sports Player of the Year, Senior Showcase MVP, First-Team All-Conference, and Team MVP.
In addition to his high school success, Ryan also played for 1 Family, contributing to their victory in the New Balance National Championship and the International Open Tournament in Mexico.
Off the court, Ryan excelled academically, being named FACA Academic All-State and Academic All-Conference and receiving the Principal's Honor Award. He graduated in the top 10 percent of his class and was actively involved in volunteering at camps and tournaments and assisting with Christmas tree sales.
Darner on Ryan Blount
"Ryan was a kid that I was able to see play a lot for 1 Family. They won the New Balance Circuit and were one of the best AAU programs in the country. This past year at Rockledge, Ryan was one of the top scorers in the state. He will bring the ability to score the basketball in a number of different ways. He is a very good shooter, goes to the offensive glass, and can take guys off the dribble."
Kaden Froebe | 6-3 | 190 | G | Grad. | Lincoln, Ill. | Missouri S&T | Lincoln Community HS
Kaden Froebe will join the Spartans as a graduate transfer after an impressive collegiate career at Missouri S&T. Previous to S&T, he attended Lincoln Community High School in Lincoln, Ill.
At Missouri S&T, Froebe played four seasons with the Miners, starting in 94 of his 102 career games. He would score over 1,000 career points, finishing with 1,094. As a senior, Kaden averaged 11.0 points and 6 rebounds per game, playing 31.0 minutes per contest. He scored in double figures 19 times, including an eight-game streak of 10-plus points.
Kaden also excelled defensively, ranking second in school history with 196 steals, and was a member of the GLVC's All-Defensive team multiple times. His junior season saw him lead the GLVC with 1.8 steals per game, amassing 49 steals and 12 blocked shots. Offensively, he shot 50 percent from the field, and averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Throughout his college career, he led Miners in various statistical categories, including rebounds, assists, and steals. His contributions helped Missouri S&T to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 30 years.
In high school, Froebe played for coach Neil Alexander. He earned First-Team All-State honors in Illinois Class 3A, averaging 18.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.1 steals per game during his senior year. He helped the team reach the Sweet Sixteen with a 32-2 record. Froebe shot 57.7 percent from the field and was named the large school "Player of the Year" by the State Register-Journal in Springfield, Illinois.
Darner on Kaden Froebe
"Kaden's an experienced guy as this will be his fifth season due to the COVID year. Kaden was a four-year starter at Missouri S&T, where he helped to build that program to one of the better teams in the GLVC. He is also a guy who can play multiple positions as he was a four-year starter. For four years he averaged double figures and is an outstanding rebounder for a guard. A few things that really impressed us is his passing ability, high basketball IQ, and his defensive instincts as he was one of the best defenders from the GLVC last year."
Kyler Lamb | 6-6 | 195 | F | Fr. | Williston, Fla. | Williston High School
Kyler Lamb graduated from Williston High School in 2023. Standing at 6'6" and weighing 195 pounds, the forward made his mark as a four-year letterwinner for the Red Devils. His leadership skills include being selected as team captain twice, guiding his team to back-to-back state championships.
Kyler's senior year, under the guidance of coach Jimmy Irving, saw him lead his team to a stellar 29-2 record. Averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, Kyler also posted a 53 percent field goal percentage. His consistent performance helped him surpass the milestone of 1,000 career points, earning him the prestigious title of Florida 1A Player of the Year and a spot on the First-team All-State.
Beyond high school basketball, Kyler also showcased his talents with the Skills Center Elite under Coach Chris Ward and competed on the Under Armour Circuit.
Kyler's achievements extended into the classroom where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the National Honor Society. He also volunteered as a little league scorer.
Darner on Kyler Lamb
"Kyler comes to us from Williston High School, where he won two state championships. Kyler is a very versatile player, who can play and guard multiple positions. The thing we really liked that stood out about Kyler was his length and athleticism. Kyler is a very unselfish player who probably could have scored a lot more on his high school team but did whatever it took for the betterment of the team. Kyler is very young for his age. As he continues to develop and get stronger, his future is really bright here."
Amarion Nimmers | 6-3 | 185 | G | So. | Rock Island, Ill.| Indian Hills Community College | University of Iowa | Rock Island HS
Amarion Nimmers, hailing from Rock Island, Illinois, is a 6-3, 185 guard who played last season at Indian Hills Community College (IHCC).
At IHCC, Nimmers played a pivotal role in leading the team to a 29-6 record and an appearance in the JUCO final four. He played in 33 games, starting six, and averaged 6.9 points per game. He registered double figures in 11 games, including a season-high 20 points against McCook. Previous to IHCC, Nimmers enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he redshirted during the 2022-23 season with the Hawkeyes.
Nimmers high school accolades include being First-Team All-State, All-Conference, and All-District from his sophomore to senior years. He was the conference points per game leader during his junior and senior years. As a senior, he averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and two steals per game, shooting an impressive 62 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range. His performance earned him the titles of Illinois Player of the Year and Illinois Male Athlete of the Year Finalist.
Amarion began his career at Rock Island High School under Coach Marc Polite. During his high school years, he was a four-time team MVP and captain, becoming the second-leading scorer in school history. He led his team to two conference championships and a runner-up finish in his senior year.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Amarion graduated from high school as a member of the National Honors Society and completed several AP courses. He volunteered regularly at elementary schools, helped distribute food to those in need, and donated time at youth basketball camps.
Darner on Nimmers
"Amarion is a guy who started college as a redshirt at Iowa and then transferred to Indian Hills. Amarion was a very productive player on a very good team at Indian Hills as they were ranked in the top-10 all year. Amarion will bring us a guy that can score in different ways. He's a very good shooter and a guy who can also get to the rim and finish. Defensively, he does a very good job to utililize his size and strength to have a chance to be an elite defender."
B.J. Schaeffer | 6-2 | 165 | G | Fr. | Palmetto, Ga. | Langston Hughes HS
B.J. Schaeffer, a guard from Palmetto, Georgia, recently graduated from Langston Hughes High School, where he made a significant impact on the basketball court. Over his three-year varsity career with the Panthers, B.J. served as the team captain in his senior year.
During his final season, B.J. led his team to a 21-9 record, averaging 17.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while maintaining a 51 percent shooting accuracy. Under the mentorship of Coach Rory Welsh, B.J. had the honor of being named the team's most valuable player. His accolades also included a selection for the All-Region team, an honorable mention from the Atlanta Tip-off Club, and was named to the GBCA All-State team.
In addition to his success with Langston Hughes, B.J. also played for Game Elite K under Coach Kendra Romain. Off the court, B.J. excelled academically, consistently making the principal's list.
Darner on Schaeffer
"B.J. comes from an outstanding high school program that plays in a very good league in Atlanta. B.J. is going to be a combo guard that is good coming off ball screens, very good in the open floor, and an outstanding passer. Just like Kyler, B.J. is young for his age, and as he gets bigger and stronger, we think he can be an elite player in the Sunshine State Conference."
Grady Schwartz | 6-8 | 210 | F | Fr. | Jacksonville, Fla. | Episcopal School of Jacksonville
Grady Schwartz, a graduate of the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, is a 6-8, 210-pound forward from Jacksonville, Fla. As a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain for the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, he played a crucial role in leading the team to a 24-5 record in his senior year. Grady averaged 17.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, with an impressive 57 percent shooting from the field. Coached by Chip Stroud, he also played for the Atlanta Timberwolves under Scott Samach and advanced to the UAA Tournament.
Off the court, Grady excelled academically as a member of the National Honor Society, volunteered at kids' camps, and helped his sister organize houses for families in need. He will be pursuing a major in international business management with a minor in pre-law.
Grady comes from a family with a rich athletic background. His father, Bryan Schwartz, was a second-round draft pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars and played five NFL seasons, while his mother, Diane, played basketball and volleyball at Augustana University. His brother, Hayden, plays football at the University of Minnesota.
Darner on Schwartz
"I got the opportunity to see Grady play quite a bit last summer with his high school team. The thing that impressed me with Grady is that he has a very high motor, is very active on the offensive and defensive end, can step out and shoot the ball, passes the ball very well for a guy his size, and rebounds the ball very well. Grady comes from a great high school program that was very well coached and was a game away from making it to state."