Martin chooses UMaine

He has won it all this winter – a state championship, Mr. Basketball and Maine Gatorade Player of the Year honors.

But having surmounted all the challenges placed in front of him during his high school career, Ryan Martin soon will have the chance to test his skills at the highest level of collegiate competition.

And all the while he’ll remain a Black Bear.

Martin, a 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior guard from Maranacook Community School of Readfield, said Wednesday he will join the University of Maine men’s basketball program next fall.

“My dream all along has been to play Division I basketball,” said Martin, who told Maine head coach Ted Woodward of his decision Monday evening. “And for me there’s nowhere better to play Division I than at Maine.”

Martin, who also considered Vermont, Quinnipiac, Keene State and Franklin Pierce, did not say if he would receive athletic scholarship money from Maine. But he is expected to join the Black Bears as a preferred walk-on, so while there may not be an athletic scholarship available this fall, there could be the opportunity to earn one in the future.

“The only reason Ryan wasn’t recruited more heavily by Division I schools was because of his size, that’s the only reason,” said Maranacook coach Rob Schmidt. “But there’s way more upside with Ryan than there is downside. He has an incredible work ethic, and his drive and desire are second to none.

“The great thing about Ryan is he’ll do whatever the coaches there ask.”

Martin’s participation at UMaine is contingent upon his admission to the university and his compliance with NCAA initial eligibility guidelines.

Martin said he was encouraged by a visit he had with Woodward on the Orono campus during the high school tournament season.

“He said he was interested in me and wanted me to come up and prove myself,” Martin said.

A four-year starter at Maranacook, Martin averaged 23.2 points per game over a career during which he scored 1,899 points and led the Black Bears to a 69-13 overall record.

In addition to the Mr. Basketball and Gatorade player of the year honors he has received during the last week, Martin is a two-time Bangor Daily News All-Maine choice, a three-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B player of the year and a three-time member of the KVAC Class B all-defensive team.

Maranacook was 59-4 during Martin’s final three seasons, winning Class B state championships in both 2006 and 2008.

This winter, Martin averaged 23.1 points and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field, 60 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and 88 percent from the free-throw line for the Black Bears.

He averaged 25 points per game during the Eastern B tournament while earning most valuable player honors for the second time in three years, then scored a game-high 26 points as Maranacook defeated Cape Elizabeth 56-46 in the Class B state final to cap off a 22-0 season.

A shortstop and pitcher on the Maranacook baseball team, Martin said he will play this spring.

But he’ll also work to prepare himself for life as a collegiate Black Bear next fall.

“There’s a lot to work on,” said Martin. “One big thing for me will be to go up there and be a pest on defense, and to put a lot of pressure on opposing point guards all over the court.”

Martin, who played primarily as a shooting guard at Maranacook, also will have to adjust to playing point guard in college.

“He’s a scorer, and he’s always been a scorer, so moving to the point will be a transition for him,” said Schmidt. “It may take him a little while to figure out when to shoot as a point guard and when to dish, but he’ll figure it out.”

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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