DELAND, Fla. — Markes Royster has joined Stetson University men's basketball head coach Donnie Jones' staff as an assistant coach, bringing extensive experience in player development at the NBA, NBA G League and NCAA Division I levels.

Royster reunites with Jones after previously serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 2014 to 2016. Throughout his career, Royster has worked with professional and collegiate players, helping develop individual skills and prepare athletes for success at the highest levels of the game.

Most recently, Royster served as assistant coach and director of player development for the Greensboro Swarm, the NBA G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets. He was part of the staff that captured the 2026 NBA G League Championship, working with players including Hornets first-round pick Nick Smith Jr. during his G League assignments.

Royster also brings experience from several NBA organizations, including the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks. During his time in Indiana, he led individual player-development workouts for T.J. Warren, T.J. McConnell and Doug McDermott, while also working with Myles Turner on finishing and interior skills. He previously collaborated with Sean Sweeney on Andre Drummond's development and worked alongside Mike Procopio on skill development with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas.

His time with the Pacers included working with Warren during the 2019-20 season, when the forward averaged a career-high 19.8 points per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. Warren later scored a career-high 53 points against Philadelphia during the NBA's 2020 Orlando restart and earned a spot on the All-Bubble First Team.

At UCF, Royster worked under Jones as a graduate assistant, contributing to player development for Tacko Fall, Matt Williams and B.J. Taylor. Fall went on to play professionally in the NBA, while Williams signed with the Miami Heat and Taylor later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Royster's time with the Knights included the program's NCAA Tournament run and its matchup against Duke in 2019.

Beyond his coaching roles, Royster owned and operated Swish Ocean Basketball Training in Los Angeles from 2020 to 2024, further expanding his experience in individualized player development. His work emphasizes skill instruction, film study and analytics to help players strengthen their games and maximize their potential.

Royster began his collegiate playing career at Penn State Beaver, where he was a two-year starting point guard and team captain from 2010 to 2014. He finished as the program's all-time winningest player and helped lead the team to a No. 1 national ranking and a national championship appearance in 2014.

He earned a Bachelor of Business Management from Penn State Beaver in 2014 and a Master of Education from UCF in 2016. Royster is also proficient in a range of video and analytics platforms, including SportsCode, Second Spectrum, XOS and Synergy.

Royster now joins Jones and the Hatters as Stetson continues to build its men's basketball program, bringing a wealth of experience in player development and a background spanning collegiate basketball, the NBA and the G League.

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.