Martin making believers

With the success of last year's SYF Players program, a number of the team's top players will suit up for Division 1 teams next year as freshmen. The team's top two underclassmen, Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore, are back and joining the 17 and under squad this year is Scott Martin.

Martin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Valparaiso (Ind.) High School, opened the AAU season up strong with his play at the Boo Williams Invitational. Consider Martin a big time target for a number of schools in the Big Ten and Big 12 much like Moore and Hummel.

The well-built forward showed good bounce and overall athleticism around the bucket. The lefty could also step out and bury the three point shot with little problem. Martin will likely be a face up power forward in college. Whatever the spot, he proved, at least last weekend and in his junior year, that he is certainly an intriguing high-major prospect.

Martin said he is fielding interest from Valpo, Northwestern, Michigan, Purdue, DePaul, Ball State (prior to the new coaching staff) and Bowling Green. Martin said all of the schools have offered but he is keeping a laid back approach going into the busy evaluation period.

"I'm wide open, completely wide open," he said. "I haven't narrowed it down yet and don't plan to for a while. I'm very open.

"Obviously, this is a big time of year for me. I want to be able to have the chance to show what I can do. We have a good team and we are all good friends. No one has a problem with sharing the ball. I think we can do some big things."