LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Southern College head men's basketball head coach Mike Donnelly is proud to announce the 2021-22 incoming recruiting class. Two freshmen and five transfer student-athletes are set to join the Mocs men's basketball team in August.

Coach Donnelly:
This is a very deep and talented recruiting class for us. Our transfers will add much needed firepower and experience to our roster, and our freshmen will be hungry to compete from day one. With the addition of seven newcomers, team chemistry will be our main priority when we start our preseason workouts in the fall. Last year was disappointing due to Covid-19, but I know our guys are ready to embrace the winning tradition and expectations of Florida Southern Basketball."
 
The 2020-21 team finished the unique season 7-5. The 2021-22 schedule will be released at a later date.
 
6-6 200 Gr. G Jack Casale (Portland, ME)
Casale will join the Mocs after transferring from Saint Joseph's College (ME) (DIII). He was a DIII Pre-Season All-American in 2020-2021. Played in four games this past season due to Covid-19. Averaged 26.3 PPG and 14.0 RBG at Saint Joseph's.  As a junior he averaged 26.0 PPG, 9.2 RBG and 3.5 APG. He was named the 2020 GNAC Conference Player of the Year. Scored 1686 points, grabbed 668 rebounds and dished out 242 assists in 81 career games at Saint Joseph's. Has one year of eligibility remaining.
 
"Jack had an incredible career at Saint Joseph's College. He is a versatile and multi-dimensional player who can really score the basketball at a high level. Jack plays with toughness at both ends of the floor and is an excellent rebounder as well. He is going to be a great fit in our system."
 
6-4 200 R-Sr. G Tarik Mckelphin (Plant City, FL)
Mckelphin joins the Mocs as a transfer from the University of West Florida (DII).  He averaged 15.2 PPG and 8.5 RBG in the 2020-21 season. He earned All-Gulf South Conference Second Team after leading the team in minutes, rebounds and steals. He scored a career-high 33 points vs. Shorter and 32 points vs. Lee University. Recorded nine double-doubles in 19 games played this season. He scored 549 points and grabbed 304 rebounds in 44 career games at West Florida. Has one year of eligibility remaining.
 
"Tarik is a terrific athlete and a very talented player. He will add much needed firepower offensively, and should thrive in our up-tempo style of play. Tarik has the ability to guard multiple positions defensively and also is a proven rebounder. He will have an immediate impact for us at both ends of the floor."
 
6-6 215 Gr. F Hashem Abbas (Nablus, Palestine)
Abbas comes to the Florida Southern after transferring from the University of Bridgeport (CT) (DII). Due to Covid-19 he sat out during the 2020-21 season. He averaged 14.9 PPG and 6.3 RBG in 2019-2020, his last season played. Earned All-East Coast Conference Second Team honors at Bridgeport. Scored a career-high 44 points vs. NYIT (2/19/20). Scored 976 points, grabbed 457 rebounds and dished out 100 assists in 84 career games at Bridgeport. Has one year of eligibility remaining.
 
"Hash is a great addition to our program. He is a talented and hardworking player who is competitive and very skilled offensively. He will add experience and toughness to our frontcourt, and will provide a much needed presence defensively. Hash is a winner. He will play a major role for us right away".
 
6-2 180 R-Fr. G Jadin Booth (Omaha, NE)
Booth is making the move to Florida Southern after transferring from the University of Nebraska Omaha (DI). He averaged 5.1 PPG and 1.3 APG as a freshman in 20 games in the 2020-21 season. He scored a career-high 13 points vs. South Dakota State (3/6/21). In a game at Kansas (12/11/20), he played 30 minutes and scored 11 points. All-time scoring leader (1,634 points), three pointers made (203 3FGM) and assists (284 assists) at Westside HS. 1^st Team all-state selection. Has four years of eligibility remaining.
 
"Jadin is a smart and talented combo guard who really knows how to play. He is a very good perimeter shooter and also has the ability to create off the dribble and score in space. Jadin is a competitive and hardworking player who defends well both on and off the ball. He is a great addition to our program".
 
6-7 215 R-Fr. F Luke Anderson (Lakeland, FL)
Anderson will make the move back home as he began his collegiate career at the University of South Florida (DI). He averaged 1.8 PPG and 1.0 RBG in four games in the 2020-21 season. Before choosing USF, Anderson had originally committed and previously enrolled at Iowa State University. The local product played high school basketball at Lakeland averaged 21.8 PPG and 10.1 RBG his senior year of high school. Tabbed as 17^th best player in Florida in 2019. Has four years of eligibility remaining.
 
"We are very excited to add Luke to our program. Luke is a very skilled player who has a high IQ and a really good feel for the game. His length and versatility will help us at both ends of the floor. Luke is a very good perimeter shooter and possesses promising upside. His best basketball is still ahead of him."
 
6'7 210 Fr. F Olafur Gunnlaugsson (Reykjavik, Iceland)
Gunnlaugsson is an international student who played two years at Potters House Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. He played this past season in Iceland where he averaged 25.0 PPG, 9.0 RBG and 3.0 APG for IR Reykjavikur U20 Team. He shot 43.0% from the 3-point line and 98.0% FT.
"Oli is a very skilled player who adds really good size and length on the wing and also to our frontcourt. He is a very good perimeter shooter with impressive range and plays with a lot of confidence. He is an unselfish player who knows how to make the right play. I'm really looking forward to watching him develop in our program."
 
6-0 190 G Fr. Caleb Jones (Lehigh Acres, FL)
Jones was a senior captain and four-year starter at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers. As a senior, he averaged 19.1 PPG and 7.0 APG. He scored a career-high 50 points vs. Naples High School (2/04/21). The honor roll student is rated as the 64^th best senior prospect by Florida Hoops.
 
"Caleb is a tough guard who is very strong and athletic. He can play both guard positions and has the ability to make plays in transition in the open floor. Caleb can score the ball in a variety of ways. He is very good at creating offensive space and has a very good mid-range game. He fits our system and style of play well."