Recruiting Report: Darrius Martin (2017)

<h2>September 16, 2015</h2><p>After a summer spent playing with the Iowa Barnstormers 16U squad, Bettendorf junior <strong>Darrius Martin </strong>gained invaluable exposure and experience.</p> <p>Since the offseason the 6-foot-5 wing has seen interest come in from Division I to Division III programs.</p> <p>“I have Interest from Air Force Academy, and Wayne State, and Western Illinois, and Illinois College,” said Martin.</p> <p>“Wayne State was the first to call, and then we went down to the Wayne State camp as a team with the Barnstormers. And then Air Force called and sent a couple of letters and they are supposed to be at our open gym soon.”</p> <p>Martin named which schools he feels are pursuing him from most to least.</p> <p>“If I had to name them in order it’d probably be Wayne State and then Air Force Academy as the top two, and then Western Illinois and then Illinois College,” said Martin.</p> <p>After playing significant minutes early last season as a sophomore, Martin saw himself starting by season’s end. And then he landed with the ‘Stormers.</p> <p>“Probably the most improvement this offseason I saw was with rebounding, and finding what role I needed to take, and being able to take on a new role with a higher caliber team. I had to focus on other ways to score, like with rebounds and putbacks,” said Martin.</p> <p>“It was just real good playing with such high-caliber players because I learned a lot from them.”</p> <p>The 6-foot-5 prospect played mostly as a wing and stretch-four with the ‘Stormers this spring and summer, but says he’s working to develop into more of a guard.</p> <p>“Right now I see myself as a three or a four, but I’m really trying to convert to be able to play the two,” he said. “So I’m working on my ball-handling and my vision on the court.”</p> <p>As he heads into his junior season with the Bulldogs, Martin says he’ll have to increase his production, and his leadership.</p> <p>“I think this year I’ll have to take on more of a leadership and scoring role with most of the seniors gone,” he said. “And the goal is to at least make it to state, and head down there.”</p>