FORT MYERS, Fla.- Fort Myers native Trace Darby is trading in the white sand of Southwest Florida for the hills of Illinois after the Bucs sophomore signed to play at Aurora University in Illinois next season. 

Darby played in 18 games over the past three seasons for Florida SouthWestern, shooting an even 50% from the field for the Purple and Aqua.  As a sophomore in 2022-2023, he scored his first points of the season in a 87-58 win over Spartanburg Methodist, going 2-2 from the field and finishing with four points.  He topped that effort when the Bucs kicked off the new year against North Florida Prep, scoring five points in six minutes in a 110-46 blowout over the Spartans.

Darby will join a Spartans squad coming off of an encouraging 2022-2023 season when they more than doubled their win total from the season before, going 12-12 overall and 7-10 in NACC action. 

Darby is the eighth FSW sophomore to sign at the four year level this season, joining teammates Jadrian Tracey (Oregon), Tyson Brown (Rhode Island), Bradley Douglas (Arkansas-Little Rock), Jemal Davis (Central Michigan), Wesley Oba (Delaware State), Jordan Mitchell (Southern), and Allen Udemadu (Morgan State).