Tyler McKnight Men's Basketball Commitment Graphic

Men's basketball adds McKnight to 2026-27 recruiting class

8/17/2026 4:00:00 PM

by Cedric Gillette

CASTINE, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy Men's Basketball program is excited to announce the addition of Tyler McKnight to its 2026 recruiting class, the second under Head Coach Cedric Gillette.

McKnight, a 6'3" guard from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, joins the Mariners after an outstanding career at New Smyrna Beach High School. As a senior, McKnight averaged 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, establishing himself as one of the premier guards on Florida's east coast. He also competed on the P32 New Balance Circuit, Puma Circuit, and with Z Camp Elite, consistently playing against some of the nation's top competition.

Throughout his high school career, McKnight helped lead New Smyrna Beach to the 2025 Florida Class 5A District 7 Championship and a 2026 Florida Class 5A Sweet 16 appearance. A four-year varsity starter, he earned First Team All-Area honors in 2024, 2025, and 2026 after being named Second Team All-Area in 2023. McKnight also surpassed the 1,000-point milestone, led his team in scoring during the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons, and finished his career ranked among the top five in school history in made three-pointers.

Away from the court, McKnight enjoys fishing, playing video games, and spending time with family and friends. He chose Maine Maritime Academy because of its outstanding academic opportunities and the chance to compete in a strong basketball program. McKnight plans to major in International Business & Logistics at Maine Maritime Academy.

What They're Saying About Tyler McKnight

Cedric Gillette, Head Coach, Maine Maritime:
"We are really fired up to add Tyler to our program. We spent a ton of time recruiting him, so it was awesome to finally get him on campus this spring. We first identified Tyler at FABC last summer, and I still remember watching him make what felt like 10 threes in one game. After every shot I kept thinking, 'There's no chance this next one goes in,' and then he'd knock down another one. The best way I can describe Tyler is simple, his ball goes in. He's a guy who can really shoot it, and that's something that immediately caught our attention.

The thing I like most about Tyler is that he loves the game. He comes from New Smyrna Beach, AKA the shark bite capital of the world, but even though he lives right by the beach, he'd rather spend his time in the gym. He's the definition of a gym rat. He's always in the gym or looking for the next pick-up game to jump into.

As we got to know Tyler throughout the recruiting process, it became obvious he was exactly the type of person we wanted in our program. He's competitive, he's humble, and he genuinely loves being in the gym. We had a great visit when he came to campus this spring, and we're thrilled he decided to become a Mariner. I think he has a really bright future here, and I can't wait to get the opportunity to coach him."

Sean Henry, Assistant Coach, New Smyrna Beach High School:
"Tyler is the ultimate competitor and teammate. His desire, passion and commitment to getting better everyday is what makes him a great player. His faith keeps him grounded and focused in all aspects of his like."

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by Cedric Gillette

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