Latest news with #AlijahMartin
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Alijah Martin, G, Florida
Florida guard Alijah Martin screams during the NCAA Basketball National Championship Game against Houston at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, April 7, 2025. Florida won the game 65-63. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide. Alijah Martin, G, Florida Height: 6-2 • Weight: 210 • Class: Senior • Age: 23 Summary: Martin is a hyper-athletic, high-energy guard who plays bigger than his size and impacts the game with his toughness, rebounding, and defensive grit. But his positional tweener status, streaky shooting, and limited creation ability complicate his ability to carve out a specialized role. Advertisement Comparisons: De'Anthony Melton, Derrick Jones Jr. Strengths Defense: Martin brings a toughness and physicality to the defensive end. He'll hound opponents full court, fight like hell through screens, and battle against anyone at any size. He stays locked in off-ball too. Intangibles: He plays bigger than his 6-foot-2 frame would suggest he can. He cleans up the boards, dunks over and through defenders, and flies around on defense. Athleticism: He's an elite athlete, both with his quick-twitch movements on the floor when attacking closeouts and driving to the basket, and with his verticality leading to highlight-reel dunks. Concerns Size: He's only 6-foot-2, but plays like a wing so he's not a natural position fit, making him a bit of a modern tweener. Advertisement Shooting: Martin made only 36.4% of his 3s in five college seasons. He is capable of catching fire, but he also goes through major cold spells. It's vital that he finds some consistency, but he's only a 76% guy from the line in his career so he might just have average touch. Shot creation: He doesn't project as a primary playmaker, which is unfortunate considering his height. He lacks a great passing feel or a handle beyond his typical downhill attacks. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Star Sends Parting Message After National Championship Run
Just three and a half weeks ago, the Florida Gators captured their third national championship with a win over the Houston Cougars. A big part of their title run was guard Alijah Martin, who averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. It was a major turnaround for a team that struggled mightily on defense just a year earlier. According to KenPom, Florida ranked 12th in offensive efficiency but 94th in defensive efficiency during the 2023-24 season. Advertisement Head coach Todd Golden made it a priority to address that weakness heading into 2024-25, and the addition of Martin, who transferred from Florida Atlantic, proved to do wonders for the 39-year-old coach. With Martin's leadership and impact on the defensive end, the Gators shot up to second in the nation in defensive efficiency and finished the season as national champions. Now former Florida Gators guard Alijah Martin (15)© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images After five years at the college basketball level, Martin has moved on and is now preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft. On Thursday, he took to social media to express his gratitude to Florida fans. "Thank You Gator Nation 🫶🏽🐊," the 6-foot-2 guard wrote. Despite Martin's small size as an off-ball guard, he is still viewed as a late second-round pick. He uses his strength to his advantage and, as previously highlighted, prides himself on the defensive end. Advertisement In a recent episode of "The OGs" podcast, Martin shared a few NBA players he compares himself to. "I'd say my comparison, I'd say early in the league, probably like Davion Mitchell," Martin said. "Towards the breaking point, Lu Dort, and then when I'm at my peak, probably, like, Jrue Holiday. But then I also have an offensive game like Donovan Mitchell or Damian Lillard that I can get to for real." Related: Florida Reveals Availability Plan For 7-Foot-9 College Basketball Player
New York Times
08-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Florida's Alijah Martin will talk about his second chance at the Final Four forever
SAN ANTONIO — When Alijah Martin went to the Final Four two years ago, he played maybe the best game of his career in the national semifinals, scoring 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. But ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic, one of a handful of Cinderellas that stole hearts that spring, lost to San Diego State 72-71 on a buzzer-beater that night, sending Martin and the Owls back to Boca Raton. Advertisement Fast forward a year, and Martin was off to Florida, one of seven transfers brought in by third-year coach Todd Golden in hopes of building a championship contender, and doing so quickly. That Martin had Final Four experience was ideal. But if his Gators teammates were curious about it, Martin didn't share much — and that was on purpose. 'I don't talk about it,' he explained earlier this week, ''cause we didn't win.' But he'll be talking about this one, he hollered as confetti rained down in the Alamodome, 'for the rest of my life!' Martin scored seven points Monday, including two huge free throws with 46.5 seconds left that gave Florida its first lead of the second half, helping the Gators battle back from 12 down and then hang on for a wild 65-63 win over Houston for the national championship. It is Florida's third title and its first since the Gators completed their back-to-back in 2007. And it is a full-circle moment for the fifth-year senior, the last stop on a Final Four redemption tour with a finale Martin had been fighting for — for himself, and for the FAU Owls. 'I feel like this one was for my boys in Boca,' Martin said as he tied a piece of the net around his championship cap. 'We had a chance (in 2023) but somebody hit an unbelievable shot, and they stripped that away from us. So I did it today for the boys in Boca.' Considering his beginning in Boca Raton, Martin never would have predicted this ending. Martin's freshman year at FAU, the native of Summit, Miss., started only two games. He scored in double digits just four times, and played nine minutes or fewer in 14 games. It was, in a word, miserable. 'Man, my freshman year was crazy, bro,' he said. 'I remember being in my twin XL bed sitting here thinking like, did I choose the wrong sport? Because I could've played football. I couldn't dribble, I couldn't pass, I couldn't shoot, I couldn't defend. I started looking at myself like, yo, I'm fitting to go to Southern Miss, go play football. That's what I was thinking. Regroup, do something else.' Advertisement But he remembers this, too: 'I never cried.' Instead, he got better, partially because he learned the value of doing things other than scoring. He became a reliable defender, a ferocious rebounder and, when necessary, a solid scorer. His fourth year at FAU was his best, as he earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors after averaging 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds. With a fifth year of eligibility because of COVID-19, he hit the transfer portal last spring. He included a no-contact notice with his entry, as he didn't want to be 'bombarded' by schools he had no interest in. Instead, Martin studied which teams would fit his style. Florida awed him with a 'crazy power point presentation.' He's a visual learner, he said, and the Gators staff showed him what it would look like to achieve all his dreams — including a return trip to the Final Four. But the adjustment to UF, and the SEC, was anything but smooth. 'You go from building relationships with guys for three or four years to switching teams, building new relationships with new personalities,' Martin said, 'you gotta learn new names, and I'm terrible with names!' In Martin the Gators got an athletic guard who could score, defend and dunk (thunderously, as he reminded everyone Saturday in the semifinals). They also got a ruthless trash talker, a player who loves to run his mouth all game, all practice, all the time. 'He'll do it like he wants somebody to hear it,' said teammate Will Richard, rolling his eyes. 'I'm more discreet with mine.' Australia native Alex Condon remembered having a rough practice after returning from an exhibition match. 'He was like, 'I didn't know Australians were so soft,' Condon said of Martin. 'He kept saying that the whole practice. It really got me fired up.' Golden laughed when asked about Martin's chatter, and the read-between-the-lines answer was clear: Not much of what Martin says is suitable for print (or work). But the impact of what he says goes beyond a clever line or snappy vocabulary. Advertisement When UConn traveled to Gainesville in December 2022 and thumped the Gators 75-54 just 10 games into Golden's UF tenure, it was an eye-opener for everyone. Richard, the only significant player left from that roster, remembers the intensity the Huskies brought every single possession 'even when they were up 20.' UConn went on to win two consecutive national titles, the first program to do so since Florida had gone back-to-back. If Florida wanted to win again at that level, it needed a similar toughness. Enter Martin. 'He's an incredible competitor,' Golden said. 'His addition to our program this past offseason has lifted us to another level. Not just for the program, but for individual players in the way they compete. He really gets after it, has a great sense of competition and mentality. It has definitely bled to the rest of the crew.' That trash talk has been timely, too. One of Martin's favorite places to yak is at the free-throw line because 'I'll be bored,' he said. 'It's like 20 seconds of just weird, awkward silence.' He put that skill to use against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. With Florida on the brink of becoming the first 1-seed to bow out, Big 12 player of the year JT Toppin stepped to the line with 2:08 to play and the Red Raiders leading by a possession. Florida had just reeled off a quick 6-0 run, and Walter Clayton Jr. was heating up. Toppin shot 68 percent from the line this season, but was feeling pressure after Tech's Darrion Williams had missed the front end of a one-and-one only 35 seconds earlier. Martin pounced. 'The second one he was saying something like, 'You can't miss another one, because we're coming right here,'' Condon recalled. 'And then he (Toppin) missed short.' Martin's biggest trash-talking tip, for those looking to improve, is 'randomness.' He couldn't get much more detailed than that, he said, because he needs to be in the moment, feeding off the crowd, the energy and the vibe of the game. Advertisement Monday night, the vibe of the game was not great for long stretches. Clayton couldn't hit, the Gators were uncharacteristically sloppy with the basketball and a combined 25 fouls the second half killed any offensive flow. But Martin, who'd scored 17 points in the semifinal win over Auburn, swore he didn't panic. The Gators have had a habit of dramatic comebacks this NCAA Tournament, and he adamantly believes they are 'built for the challenge, built for the last moment of the game, built for everything.' Then Martin had to go — to pose for photos draped around the national championship trophy, to dance in the confetti, to chest bump his teammates while screaming 'we're national champs!' But first, he had to give another shoutout to his guys, the ones who brought him here the first time and planted a dream in him to get back. Could FAU nation get an Owls up, FAU's signature hand gesture, someone asked. Martin didn't hesitate. 'It's in my veins, baby.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Resilient Florida relies on defense and playmakers to overcome frustration in NCAA title game
Resilient Florida relies on defense and playmakers to overcome frustration in NCAA title game Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida celebrates after beating Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida forward Alex Condon celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida celebrates after beating Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida forward Alex Condon celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida guard Alijah Martin celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dribbles bounced off hips, no-look passes went to no one and Florida's talisman point guard couldn't make a basket. And when the Gators' bench was assessed a technical foul early the second half, a frustrating night was hitting its peak. Advertisement But then the resilient Gators came alive as they fought back from a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat Houston 65-63 in the NCAA title game for the the school's third national championship. A blocked 3-pointer by Thomas Haugh led to his spinning layup and three-point play. Walter Clayton Jr., scoreless in the first half, tied the game three times in the second half. And the Gators created their own version of Houston's suffocating defense that had stifled them for so much of the first half. As Houston looked for the winning 3-pointer in the final seconds, Clayton forced Houston's Emmanuel Sharp to abandon the shot. Sharp had to let the ball go, creating a mad scramble as Florida's 6-foot-11 Alex Condon fully extended, diving to the floor to get it. Advertisement The Gators had looked completely out of sync in the first half. Nothing was working for Clayton, who had scored 30 and 34 points in the previous two games to carry his team to the final. That meant other players had to step up. 'We have 20 minutes. Let's set the tone!' Will Richard told his Florida teammates in a huddle just outside the locker room at halftime. Richard had kept Florida in the game with four first-half 3-pointers. Condon, who finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, did the work on the defensive end with a key role in holding Houston's muscular J'Wan Roberts to eight points on 3-of-13 shooting. Advertisement And as usual, Clayton delivered the biggest moments in the rally as he tied the game three times, the first two on spinning layups for three-point plays and the last with a contested 3-pointer. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Florida roar back to break Houston hearts and capture third NCAA title
The Gators looked cooked. Down 12. Their star scoreless. The crowd roaring for the hometown favorites. And yet, Florida found a way – erasing the deficit, quieting the red sea inside the Alamodome, and capturing the program's third NCAA men's basketball championship. Florida 65, Houston 63. The Gators trailed by double digits in the second half, and didn't lead again until the final minute – but it was enough. Alijah Martin calmly knocked down two free throws with 46.5 seconds left to give Florida a 64-63 edge, their first since 8-6. After a frantic final sequence, the Gators held on to win their first national title since 2007. It was a comeback born of grit, poise and the kind of big-moment performances that championships require. Florida trailed 42-30 with just under 16 minutes to play, reeling from an 11-2 Houston run that included two LJ Cryer threes and five personal fouls on the Gators in less than four minutes. But they responded with an eight-point burst in a 78-second blur to get within three, then tied it on a Walter Clayton Jr free throw at 48-all. Clayton, the All-American guard who had been held scoreless in the first half, never found his shooting rhythm – but became the engine of Florida's comeback in other ways. He finished with just 11 points – a far cry from his back-to-back 30-point outbursts against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and Auburn on Saturday night – but had seven assists and set up multiple easy baskets for Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh as the Gators clawed back. Will Richard carried the offense early, scoring 14 of his team-high 18 in the first half and keeping Florida afloat during a ragged opening stretch. Houston, seeking their first NCAA title in the program's 80-year history, led 31-28 at halftime and looked to be in control early in the second half with an estimated win percentage of more than 90% with 14 minutes left. Cryer finished with a game-high 19 points and Wilson added a spark off the bench with nine points, but the Cougars couldn't deliver the final blow. Despite the loss, this Final Four delivered everything. Both of Saturday's semi-finals went down to the wire, and Monday's final – with the score tied for the 12th time inside the last minute – capped one of the most thrilling Final Fours in recent memory. For Florida, the title is their third overall, joining the back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007. For Golden, just 39, it cements his place in history as the youngest coach to win a national title since North Carolina State's Jim Valvano – whose own stunning victory came at Houston's expense in 1983. Full report to follow.
