Tyrese Martin thought his mind was made up, he was going to go pro. Then the unthinkable happened.
The UConn men’s basketball team was an unexpected first-round loser in the NCAA Tournament. The fifth-seeded Huskies lost 70-63 to No. 12 New Mexico State in Buffalo. and doubt crept into Martin’s mind
He wondered if he had made the right decision. As Martin sat in the locker room postgame, he tried to avoid looking his teammates directly in the face. He knew he was just a pressure cooker of emotions; it wasn’t the way he envisioned his college career ending.
After the loss Martin discussed his future with his family and the UConn coaching staff..
Ultimately, it was a business decision.
“Toward the end of the year my family circumstances were still the same,” he said. “I wasn’t making that much NIL money. I had to make a decision to change my family situation.”
The 6-foot-6 senior guard from Allentown, Pa., had an impressive 2021-22 season. Martin averaged 13.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and shot a career-high 43% from 3. As a result the UConn coaching staff felt the time was right for Martin.
“I think it was a little bit of an age thing,” said Tom Moore, UConn assistant coach. “He was really playing at a high level and doing very well here. I think the general feeling throughout the year was that it was his time. It’s more of an instinct and a gut feeling than a technical discussion.”
As Martin embarks on his journey he says he’ll never forget his time at UConn.
“No matter where I am at, I will always be representing UConn Nation.”
Growing on and off the court
When Martin transferred from the University of Rhode Island to UConn in April 2020, coach Dan Hurley promised him he would grow as an individual on and off the court.
Hurley lived up to his end of the bargain.
“I have watched myself grow from when I walked into campus,” he said. “Just being from a different school and structured differently; just to see the growth in two years of being with that man (Hurley), I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Martin learned the value of consistency in all aspects of his life.
“It’s just my approach to certain things,” he said. “One thing I know I can take away from (Hurley) is that I learned how you do one thing is how you are going to do the rest of the things.
“That’s one of the biggest things that I took with me that can translate in the basketball world and in life in general. Just with your work ethic, different things you do throughout the day and who you surround yourself with.”
Martin wasn’t the most vocal in the locker room, but earned the respect of his teammates with his trademark consistency in practices. Still, his coaches challenged him to be more of a vocal leader.
“We all felt as a staff he probably had that ability,” Moore said. “He just had never done it before and wasn’t capable of flexing that muscle. The reason why we encouraged him is because he had the respect of the room. He was extremely well liked and they knew he was about the right stuff on the court and off the court. So he was a guy that they would all follow.”
Martin still remains engaged with the players on UConn’s roster. He also helped out on the recruiting trail by talking to new commit Tristen Newton during a recent visit to campus.
He has high expectations for next year’s team.
“I believe in Coach Hurley, so I definitely don’t think it’s going to be a step back for them,” he said. “What he’s bringing in are big pieces to go with Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson. I don’t think people know how good those three are. Watching them practice all year long, you see it every day. They definitely are going to have a lot to show this coming year.”
Perfecting his role for the next level
Martin has been diligent in his preparation for the pros. After breakfast he goes through a basketball workout for a couple of hours. Then he finishes up homework before lifting weights. It’s the same routine every day with a bit of variation on weekends. When he’s not studying in Storrs, he spends time training with former pro player Ronnie Taylor in Miami.
“It’s the transition of being a pro, so I am getting used to it right now,” he said.
Martin still texts former teammate R.J. Cole every day as both are still trying to figure out how to best navigate the post-college basketball landscape.
Martin, Cole and former teammate Isaiah Whaley got invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, which gives players an opportunity to showcase their game to NBA, G-League and overseas scouts. Martin made the all-tournament team as he averaged 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games.
“[Portsmouth] was great,” he said. “I know my role for UConn is basically like what my role would be at the next level. I felt Coach Hurley prepared me for that. Going out there playing defense, rebounding, making the three and things like that.”
His stellar play earned him an invitation to the NBA G League Elite Camp, a four-day Chicago-based event that begins Saturday. If he performs well, Martin could be one of the few players selected to participate in the NBA Draft combine on May 16-22.
Jeremy Woo, an NBA Draft insider with Sports Illustrated, has Martin projected as an NBA second-round pick.
“If the draft was today, I don’t know if it’s likely that he gets drafted just because of his age,” Woo said. “He’s one of those guys that I think will probably make a team. He will get a two-way contract, I think. He could end up getting more than that. He might have to play his way into a fully guaranteed contract. I would be willing to bet he’s on a guaranteed deal by next season.”
Woo says Martin’s shooting will need to keep improving but he’s confident Martin can make it happen. He sees him playing small or power forward.
“You are talking about somebody who will probably be a bench guy,” Woo said. “I think you can’t have enough guys that are so tough, competitive and can enhance the level of everybody else when they are in the game. He fits that mold.”
Martin thinks his defensive versatility is key at the next level.
“My ability to guard multiple positions at my size and physicality,” he said. “I feel like now when you watch these playoffs you see there’s a lot of role players getting playing time guarding these superstars.”
Ultimately Martin is aware enough to know he will be a role player in the future.
“I don’t see myself going in there and being some Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant type,” he said. “I know what I can bring to an organization which is my toughness and hard work.
The first in his family to graduate
Despite going pro, Martin has remained focused on earning his degree. He stuck around Storrs for the majority of spring to complete one last course. On Sunday he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
“A lot of times there is this peer pressure among guys across the country once they finish their season to try to go somewhere, anywhere but on their campus to go train,” Moore said. “He stayed here and took care of all his academic stuff until the end.”
The significance of a degree is not lost on Martin.
“There’s not a family member that I have met that is a college graduate. So me being able to change the narrative going forward and break the cycle by being the first one feels great. Being able to say I am a UConn graduate knowing how it’s a world class university. I mean, it feels better than probably any basket I have scored in my career.”
