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One of the best players in the LSU men’s basketball program is foregoing his final two collegiate seasons and is heading to the NBA.
The Tigers’ other top player may well do the same, but is currently pondering his options and will have a decision in the coming days.
LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones announced this week that Tigers’ sophomore Jarell Martin had decided to forego his collegiate eligibility to enter his name in the NBA Draft.
Martin’s No. 1 partner in crime – LSU sophomore Jordan Mickey may do the same, but is still evaluating his options with his family
For Martin, the decision to turn pro comes after he averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore – all while shooting 50.9 percent from the field.
Martin led LSU with 15 double-doubles on the season and is widely projected to be one of the players selected in June’s NBA Draft because of his length and versatility
Martin stands 6-feet, 10-inches and weighs 235 pounds. At the next level, he will be able to play both inside and out.
“This has not been an easy decision,” Martin said at a press conference to announce his intentions. “I want to first thank my family, (LSU coach Johnny Jones), and all my great teammates. My experience at LSU has been a great one, and I now look forward to the new challenges ahead.”
“We are glad that this day has come for Jarell,” Jones added, while smiling over at Martin, who was sitting to his left. “Jarell, through his hard work and attention to detail, is not only prepared physically, but mentally as well. We were glad that he decided to come back after last year and continue to improve on his skills, and he is certainly one of the vital reasons that we have had the success that we’ve had in this program over the last couple of years.”
In Martin, the NBA scouts will be getting a versatile one – a player that scouts tout has as much upside as any forward in the upcoming draft.
Martin is a Baton Rouge native who was a McDonald’s All-American in high school at Madison Prep Academy
After being recruited by all of the top basketball programs in the country, Martin decided to stay close to home and ink with LSU – a signing that was widely celebrated among the Tigers’ faithful.
Martin repaid that anticipation in his freshman season in 2013-14, helping LSU win more than 20 games, including a bid into the National Invitational Tournament. Martin averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 boards per game as a freshman. He had NBA interest as a freshman, but opted to return to school for his sophomore season in an effort to take LSU to the NCAA Tournament.
Once Martin did that, he said he knew it was time to take the next leap forward and dip his toes into professional waters.
“I definitely wanted to get this team to the NCAA Tournament,” Martin said. “We did that this year. I definitely feel great about it and accomplished that goal. I definitely wanted to go further, but we made it there with a young team. My goals going forward are just becoming the best player that I can be.”
Jones agreed with Martin’s statement and said the standout sophomore was a key cog for the Tigers and a player that will be sorely missed.
The coach said Martin was a rare star player that was self-motivated and a team player.
“I think (NBA scouts) can visually see that he’s very coachable,” Jones said. “He did a tremendous job. Jarell is one of those guys that is a self-starter. He works extremely hard. The two seasons I’ve had him here, I’ve never had to prod him or tell him to work harder. I’ve never had to tell him to come to the gym…. That’s something he took upon himself.”
NBA Draft experts project that Martin will be a mid-to-late first round pick.
When asked what team he’d like to play for most, Martin said he has no preference, touting that any situation will be a dream come true for both he and his family.
“Whatever team that likes me,” Martin said when asked where he’d like to go. “I’ll do the job knowing my role as a player on the team. I will just do whatever the coaches need me to do.”
MICKEY STILL PONDERING
While Martin has announced his intention to go pro, his tag team partner in the paint is still contemplating his future.
Jones said that sophomore center Jordan Mickey is deciding whether to return for his junior season or head to the NBA.
Mickey is a 6-foot, 8-inch center that has earned a reputation as one of the best shot blockers in college basketball, averaging more than three blocks per game this past year.
But the center’s offensive game could use a bit of polish, which has several scouts wondering whether the Texas native would be better suited with another year in school.
Mickey averaged 15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in his sophomore season. Scouts tout that he’d be a second-round pick.
Mickey may also have a little added incentive to return because he missed several key free throws in the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament loss to North Carolina State – misses that could have iced the game for LSU.
Jones didn’t offer a strong opinion on Mickey’s status, touting that the decision is between he and his family But he did tout that history shows that players who return to school for an extra season end up evolving into better, more NBA-ready players.
“I certainly have my thinking of how guys can always get better, bigger and stronger,” Jones said. “I think any player that has time left, for the most part, can always continue to improve their game in the strength and conditioning and all of those things that really go with it…. Jordan would certainly fit into that category”
Mickey has until late-April to make his decision.
MUSSELMAN LEAVES FOR NEVADA
The LSU men’s basketball team also lost one of its best coaches this past week as Jones’ lead assistant coach Eric Musselman announced that he’d accepted the head coaching position at Nevada.
Musselman was with the Tigers for one season and was credited with a lot of the X’s and O’s successes for the Tigers.
A longtime veteran coach, Musselman has experience at all levels – college, professional and international play.
LSU standout Jarell Martin (right) decided this week to forego college and enter the 2015 NBA Draft.
