Alijah Martin, a part of FAU’s Remaining 4 run, becoming a member of Florida

Florida Atlantic switch Alijah Martin has dedicated to play at Florida subsequent season, he advised ESPN on Sunday.

“I needed to remain within the South to play within the SEC, the strongest convention in America,” Martin mentioned. “I needed an opportunity to be a major ball handler and compete for a nationwide title, at a program recognized for NBA expertise and creating gamers for the subsequent stage.”

Martin, a graduate switch with one yr of eligibility, mentioned he dedicated to teach Todd Golden and the Gators over Michigan, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and USC.

Martin was a catalyst of FAU’s Remaining 4 run in 2023, being named to the all-tournament group after a number of electrical performances, together with a 26-point, 7-rebound outburst in a slim loss to San Diego State within the Remaining 4.

He was an all-conference choice in every of the previous three seasons and averaged 13.1 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per recreation in 2023-24, serving to Florida Atlantic return to the NCAA event. Florida Atlantic coach Dusty Might departed for Michigan following a first-round NCAA event loss to Northwestern, inflicting a mass exodus from the roster.

Martin is a profession 37% 3-point shooter and a tenacious defender who has authored many highlight-reel-caliber dunks the previous few years along with his spectacular explosiveness.

He can be anticipated to play a key backcourt position for Florida alongside All-SEC guard Walter Clayton subsequent season, as start line guard Zyon Pullin exhausted his NCAA eligibility.

“I’ve paid consideration to what Coach Golden and his workers have completed for different guards who’ve transferred to their system, and I like the concept of taking part in with the kind of gamers they’ve,” Martin mentioned. “Florida performs at a quick tempo similar to the NBA. It was apparent that they may help me attain my NBA desires higher than any program. I am pumped to be part of Gator Nation. Everybody I do know from Mississippi to Boca Raton is aware of what I am speaking about.”

That is the third switch participant Florida has added this offseason, together with frontcourt gamers Rueben Chinyelu from Washington State and Sam Alexis from Chattanooga.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups.