MBB: Martin talks comings and goings

SOUTH CAROLINA MEN’S BASKETBALL

Frank Martin is meeting with players over the course of this week, and he talked Tuesday about what those meeting involve, and whether there could be any roster turnover.

Martin met with the freshmen at the beginning of the week and sophomores and juniors over the rest of the week, and will meet with the seniors next week, followed by a meeting with the entire team. He didn’t talk about specifics, but the meetings with freshmen are his favorites.

“They take a deep breath when the season ends and they’re like, wow, it’s a lot harder than anyone ever told them it would be. I’m not saying the competition, I’m saying the daily life,” Martin said. “It’s refreshing to hear what they enjoyed and what they didn’t enjoy. We speak about what they think now a year later, what they thought in high school they were good at and what they think they’ve got to get better.”

Martin mostly lets the freshmen self-critique. He has them identify what they need to do to get better, and then they set up an off-season plan to do that. With older players, he said the meetings are more of a “give-and-take.” There is also more discussion of the team mindset, and what goes on in the locker room.

“I tell them where I think they’ve grown, where I was disappointed, where I was excited, and them also sharing with me what they were excited about,” he said. “I do ask players, talk about the locker room from one year to the next. All the returning players said that they had a lot of fun this year, that the camaraderie was pretty good.”

So far, albeit with several meetings left to go, nobody has indicated to Martin that they intend to transfer or declare for the NBA Draft. Between the returning players and three incoming freshmen, Martin has used up all available scholarships and the roster is essentially set. However, he would not be surprised if that changes before June. In May, after the spring semester ends and before summer classes begin, players go home. That is when they have a chance to reflect and perhaps decide to transfer. Or, more cynically, that is when old voices get in their ear and tell them they are better off transferring.

“Everyone goes home in May and they get away from me and get around family and friends and they get convinced, hey you’re better off at this other school,” Martin said.

With that possibility in mind, Martin is continuing to recruit, particularly graduate transfers. He emphasized that none of the current players will be pushed out (barring unforeseen discipline issues) to make room for a transfer, but he is talking to potential transfers about possibilities if a spot opens up.

“They’re aware whether or not we have scholarships,” he said. “You do your university a disservice if you stop recruiting.”

“If we mislead people, shame on us,” he continued. “We can’t ever stop recruiting.”

It is unlikely, but possible, that one of those spots could be freshman A.J. Lawson. Lawson is the only underclassman with legitimate NBA interest at this point. Martin and Lawson met Monday and began the very preliminary process of exploring NBA interest. If they get word that there is interest, Lawson could declare for the NBA Draft.

NCAA and NBA rules allow an underclass player to declare for the draft but not hire an agent and go through the process once and still return to college. It’s what Chris Silva did after last season, and returned. PJ Dozier also did it two years ago, ultimately staying in the draft. Lawson is not at that point, but when he is, Martin will encourage him to go through the process.

“My job is not to keep kids in school, my job is to help them grow so they can make a better life, and if making a better life consists of declaring for the NBA Draft, it’s my job to help them get there,” Martin said. “I met with A.J. this morning. He’s the one guy that has possibilities. We’re in the fact finding information stage to find out if it’s something that’s worth his time. If you can do it, why not do it. If you can declare and go get workouts and get real information, why not do it?”