Ellender star gives pledge to UNO

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One of the best local prep basketball players has apparently made his college choice.

Ellender Memorial High School standout Davontavean Martin confirmed to The Times this week that he has verbally committed to the University of New Orleans after making a visit to the school on Sunday afternoon.


Martin is a 6-foot, 4-inch junior combo guard. He was being recruited by several local schools prior to his commitment, including UL-Lafayette, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls, UL-Monroe and several other regional schools.

An inside-outside threat, Martin averages more than 16 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game for the Patriots.

“It just felt like the place for me to be,” Martin said. “I liked everything the coaches were doing, and I decided it was time for me to make my decision to want to be part of their program.”


Martin’s commitment continues what is now becoming a bit of a pipeline from New Orleans to Houma.

The Ellender standout is the fourth local standout to enroll at UNO in the past half-decade, joining Nate Frye, Gibby Talbot and women’s basketball star Randi Brown as locals to enroll with the Privateers men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Martin made the pledge on the same day that his AAU teammate and Landry-Walker standout Lamont Berzat did the same –something he said made his pledge easier.


The Privateers play in the Southland Conference and are coached by Mark Slessinger.

They are 3-6 on the season, but are expected to be one of the better teams in the Southland Conference.

“I think their style suits the type of game that I like to play,” Martin said. “I think that will let me be a pretty good fit for me.”


Martin said he committed early to focus on his title hopes with Ellender.

Tay Martin