FORT MYERS, Fla. – FSW men’s basketball sophomore guard Tyler Cheese has signed his National Letter of Intent to play for head coach John Groce and the University of Akron from the Mid-American Conference. Cheese marks the fifth NCAA Division I signee for head coach Marty Richter and the FSW men’s basketball program.

Cheese will join the Zips for the 2018-19 academic year. Akron finished the 2017-18 season with a 14-18 overall record and a 6-12 record in the MAC. Since June 2008, the Akron men's basketball program has been partnered with Nike under which the Zips' shoes, game uniforms, warm ups and accessories are licensed under the Nike and LeBron James Trademarks. The Zips are just one of four college programs in the country that are partnered with the LBJ line of Nike equipment [Kentucky, Miami (Fla.) and Ohio State].

Under the leadership of 2018 Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year Marty Richter, the Buccaneers finished the season 30-3 overall, earned the program's first Suncoast Conference championship (12-0 conference record), secured their second consecutive berth to the NJCAA District VIII Championship and were awarded the highest seed of the at-large bids to the NJCAA National Tournament (6-seed). The Bucs defeated tournament host Hutchinson Community College, 80-65 (March 21), in the second round of the National Tournament, before falling to Vincennes University (76-68; March 22) in the Quarterfinals.

As a team, FSW led the nation in opponents' field goal percentage (36.8 percent) but they also ranked in the top 25 nationally in multiple categories, including blocks per game (6.9; 4th), defensive rebounds per game (32.1, 7th), assists per game (20.4, 9th), opponents' three-point field goal percentage (29.9 percent, 11th), rebounds per game (46.0, 11th), steals per game (10.2, 12th), field goal percentage (50.8 percent, 14th), total points (2,985, 18th) and points per game (90.5; 24th).

“As one of our program founders, Tyler exemplified what we were looking for to start athletics at FSW,” said Richter. “He has a high basketball IQ, a commitment to better himself and his team and a forward looking approach to his overall success. I'm really proud of Tyler. Choosing Akron over multiple BCS offers illustrates his maturity. Coach Groce will be happy to have him.”

A 2018 Suncoast Conference First Team selection, Cheese ranked second on the team in scoring (15.1 points) and led the squad in assists (6.6) this season. His 6.6 assists per game ranked second-best in Region VIII and ranked 13th in the nation. He scored in double figures 21 times during the season, including scoring a career-high 40 points (13-of-26 shooting from the field and 13-of-15 from the charity stripe) against IMG (Jan. 5). The owner of only triple-doubles (2) in program history (vs. IMG on Jan. 5, 2018 - 40 points, 15 rebounds, 14 assists; vs. Central Fla. on Mar. 3, 2018 - 36 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds), Cheese scored 793 points during his career at FSW.

As a freshman, Cheese was named to the Suncoast Conference Second Team after leading the Purple and Aqua in three-point percentage (34.3 percent) and knocking down 49 triples. The Albany, Ga. product finished his rookie campaign with averages of 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Cheese, who scored in double figures 16 times, made a three-pointer in 24 contests and had 12 games where he knocked down multiple triples.

For the latest news on Akron athletics, log on to GoZips.com  or stay connected on social media. Follow the Zips on Twitter @AkronZips and get men's basketball updates @ZipsMBB.

FOLLOW THE BUCS
For the latest news on FSW Athletics, log on to FSWBucs.com or stay connected to the Bucs on social media. Follow the Buccaneers on Twitter @FSWBucs, on Instagram @FSWBucs, on Facebook at Facebook.com/FSWBucs and on Snapchat at BucsSnaps.

SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION ARENA
The Buccaneers compete in the brand new Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Suncoast Credit Union Arena is approximately 75,000 square feet and is home to the FSW basketball teams and a student athletic center. The arena seats approximately 3,300 fans and includes six skyboxes, a hospitality event center, competition courts that convert into recreational courts, athletic office space, student, faculty and staff wellness, and an athletic center with a fitness pavilion, men's and women's locker rooms and a weight training area. The arena has two Daktronics displays, on the north and south walls, that each measure 10 feet high by 20 feet wide. Both displays incorporate variable content zoning to each show one large image or they can be divided into multiple windows to show any variety of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages. One-hundred feet of ribbon displays have been installed on the east and west walls of the arena. The ribbons provide the opportunity to supplement the content on the main displays as well as highlight sponsors throughout events.

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN
The Florida SouthWestern State College athletic program is a member of the Florida College System Athletic Association (FCSAA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Buccaneers are one of 25 schools in the NJCAA Region 8 and are one of six schools in the Suncoast Conference. Florida SouthWestern State College currently supports four intercollegiate athletic programs (Baseball, Softball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball).

Baseball and Softball began their regular season competition in 2016 at the City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. Located on the Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus in Fort Myers is the brand new Suncoast Credit Union Arena (completed in fall 2016), where FSW’s men’s and women’s basketball teams compete.

THE NJCAA
The movement to form a unique sports association dedicated to America’s two-year colleges arose in 1937 when several track and field coaches gathered in Fresno, California. A year later, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rejected a petition from 13 two-year colleges in California to grant their teams and athletes permission to compete at the NCAA Track & Field Championships.

In the spring of 1938, following the NCAA’s rejection, those same 13 two-year colleges gathered again in Fresno to organize and form an association that would promote and supervise a national athletics program exclusively for junior and community colleges…and the rest is history.

On May 14, 1938, the first constitution of the National Junior College Athletic Association was accepted by its charter members and the organization held its first national championship event a year later in May 1939.

The NJCAA has played a vital role in collegiate athletics for the past eight decades and continues to be the leader in championing academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes. This section of the association's website is dedicated to celebrating the NJCAA's rich history and tradition as the national governing body of two-year college athletics.

For more information on the NJCAA log on to www.NJCAA.org. 

THE FCSAA
The Florida College System Activities Association, Incorporated (FCSAA) is a statewide non‑profit corporation regulating, coordinating, and promoting intercollegiate activities in: Athletics, Brain Bowl, Forensics, Music, Student Government, Student Publications, and Theatre.

Membership in the Florida College System Activities Association is open to any of the 28 colleges in the Florida College System. Each member institution is represented in the policy‑making deliberations of the Association through that institution's President or other designated representative. The institutional representatives constitute the FCSAA Presidents Assembly, the ultimate authority in FCSAA.

For more information on the FCSAA log on to www.TheFCSAA.com.  

NJCAA REGION 8 & THE SUNCOAST CONFERENCE
Member colleges of the NJCAA are allotted to a specific NJCAA Region upon membership to the association. Unlike other collegiate organizations that defer to conference affiliation, the NJCAA guarantees each member college's membership within the regional structure of the association. In most cases, region assignment is based upon geographic location of the college. 

The region structure of the NJCAA is the primary method used by all sponsored sports of the association in determining qualification for national championship tournaments. In certain sports, two or more regions are partnered to form a competition 'district', which is then used for national championship qualification. The organization of districts varies per sport and is formulated every two years under the authority of the association's board of directors. 

FSW is in Region 8 and is joined by ASA College Miami (Region 8 only; non-FCSAA member), Broward College, Chipola College, College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Gulf Coast State College, Hillsborough Community College, Indian River State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Miami Dade College, Northwest Florida State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, Pensacola State College, Polk State College, Santa Fe College, Seminole State College of Florida, South Florida State College, St. Johns River State College, St. Petersburg College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota and Tallahassee Community College.

The Bucs are also in the Suncoast Conference with Hillsborough Community College, Polk State College, South Florida State College, St. Petersburg College and State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota. The women’s basketball program is also in the Suncoast Conference, but with only three other teams (Hillsborough Community College, St. Petersburg College and Eastern Florida State College).

For more information on Region 8 log on to www.TheFCSAASports.com.