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JARELL MARTIN – 6’9” POWER FORWARD, LSU, 21 YEARS OLD
Breakdown – Jarell Martin is as meaty as they come when it comes to how he plays the game of basketball. He’s physical, he’s tough, and he’s nasty. With the ability to score in the low post and stretch the floor with a decent mid range game, Martin could be a nice addition for any team looking to add depth. Martin, who weighs 241 pounds, can shift his body around and is well adept on the glass. The only problem is he’s 6’9” and doesn’t have a tremendous post-up game. If Martin expects to become a starter in the coming years, he will have to do more than just pick and pop with an occasional drive to the basket. In addition, the NBA is a league of playmakers, and when you are turning the ball over three times with only two assists like Martin does, the attraction for teams to pick you isn’t incentivized.
Draft Status – At least with Jarell Martin, the motor never stops running. He has a bad tendency to miss defensive assignments of the ball, and his shot selection is questioned at times, but no matter what the score of the game is, the effort is there. In Martin’s sophomore year, his rebounding dramatically improved; as a freshman he averaged just 4.2 rebounds per game, but as a sophomore he boosted his rebounding numbers to 9.2 boards per game. Being such a tenacious worker will help make Martin a solid addition to any team looking to add a blue-collar type of player
NBA Player Comparison – When basketball fans think of successful blue collar basketball players that have major impacts on games, many think of Zach Randolph. Randolph, at 6’9”, is rough around the edges and is an excellent rebounder. Martin possesses the same skills that Randolph does but needs to refine his game mentally. He is turnover prone and lacks awareness defensively at times, but he could be a good find in the late first round or early to mid second round if he is able to improve his weaknesses.
Summary – Martin has all the physical attributes to be a consistent NBA player. He is big, strong, can rebound, and has a consistent mid range game. However, Martin will need to learn to make better decisions in late game situations to be truly effective.
Prediction – Late first round or early second round
Teams – Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, or Houston Rockets
