Tyrese Martin has wanted to play for Dan Hurley since September 2017. This winter, the 6-for-6 guard will get his chance.
After facing the prospect of sitting out the upcoming season due to his transfer from the University of Rhode Island, Martin recently received good news that he was granted clearance by the NCAA to play right away.
URI is where Martin first agreed to play for Hurley, with the latter the then head coach of the Rams. Prior to Martin arriving on the Kingston, R.I. campus in 2018, however, Hurley left for the UConn job.
“I was extremely confident knowing how many people were getting the waivers across the country,” said Martin during a Zoom chat on Friday afternoon. “I had a feeling it was most likely going to go through, but now that it’s here and it’s happened, it’s more of a sense of relief type of feeling and I’m excited to get out there and play again.”
After waiting a few years, Martin is pleased to have a chance to play for Hurley, even if it's just practice thus far. Of course - barring COVID setbacks - the Huskies are slated to open the season on Nov. 25, which will be a welcome opportunity for the players and program after what everyone has been through since March.
“It’s been great,” Martin said. “Things didn’t work out coming out of high school, but I think now that we got back together it’s definitely the passion, the energy, and the excitement he brings every day to his players and his practice. And then off the court, how he wants his players to address just everyday life, that’s very important, and I feel like he does a great job of it. I feel that helps us develop as players."
His addition gives the Huskies yet another weapon in what is shaping up to be a dominant backcourt, led by sophomore guard James Bouknight along with point guards Jalen Gaffney and R.J. Cole.
With a return to the Big East, the Huskies could use all hands on deck going up against Villanova, Providence, Marquette, and company.
“I know it’s definitely a tough league,” Martin said. “I feel like coming in with the group that we have now, we are right in the mix for the top of the league. We are still not where we need to be but come the end of the season that’s when we want to be our best and I feel we will be there.”
In 30 games at URI last season, Martin averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds. He shot 43.3 percent from the field, 32.1 percent on 3-pointers, and posted five double-doubles.
Not only can he produce on the offensive end, but he also comes in with a reputation as a “hard-nosed” defender. Plus, he has some collegiate experience under his belt like Cole, who sat out last year after arriving from Howard.
“I feel like my first two years I gained a lot of experience,” he said. “As a freshman, I started almost half of the games and I started every game my sophomore season, so I feel like the experience is there and I know what to expect going into college basketball.
“Now here being at UConn it’s more like, it’s a higher level obviously, so I have to do things differently, the expectations are greater and higher from the coaching staff, so now I feel like it’s all about doing what I have to do on the court and off the court to make sure I excel and help the team be successful altogether.”
With his size at the guard spot and his versatility to also play on the wing, Martin figures to be a key addition to the Huskies this season in multiple lineups.
“I was able to see where I fit before I got to campus,” he said. “Coach Hurley and Kimani (Young) did a great job explaining to me what they see from me and what they want to get out of me. Right now it’s just all molding together, the platform and the blueprint they have for me."
