Malik almost willed his team to a win on Friday night, doing it all for his team. His size and athleticism is a cheat code at his age and he was going to work inside. He pulled in some rebounds with opponents draped all over him and had some tough finishes where there was nothing the defense could do but foul. He got loose for a throwdown in transition and continues to display confidence in his outside shot. Martin is very fun to watch and is asked to do a lot for the Hustlers.

Malik, the top ranked freshman in all of Minnesota, showcased his all-around game this past weekend. He is one of the most physically gifted prospects I have ever seen at his age, as he is listed at 6’8” with strength and long arms. He was going to work inside, being able to put his shoulder down and get a score inside whenever he felt like it. He was dominant rebounding the basketball, as his athleticism and size was nearly impossible to contest with. Martin continues to develop his perimeter game, being able to create off the dribble and knock down jumpers from deep.

Malik Martin was a standout player for the Minneapolis Hustlers 15U team that was undoubtedly the tallest player in the 15U division at the Houston Heat Check. Standing at an impressive 6’8” as a freshman, Malik’s presence on the court was immediately noticeable. Offensively, Malik thrived in the open floor, attacking downhill with the ball coast to coast. He skillfully maneuvered into driving lanes in the half court and established post position to score against mismatches. His outlet passing to teammates was a notable aspect of his game, although it wasn’t always consistent. When successful, his passes initiated fast break opportunities, creating instant offense for his team. Malik’s height and frame made him a formidable force in the paint. He consistently fought for rebounds, contributing significantly to his team’s rebounding numbers. As a strong inside presence, Malik didn’t let up his position in the paint, always seeking opportunities to make an impact.

Malik Martin Malik Martin 6'8" | SF Minneapolis Henry | 2029 State MN is a walking highlight at the 15u level. At 6’7-6’8 with his strength, explosiveness, and wingspan, he’s almost impossible to stop when he gets a full head of steam towards the rim. On Friday night he skied to steal an inbounds pass out of the air and then went coast-to-coast for a dunk. Shortly after he blocked a jumper and once again took it the distance for a transition slam. Malik is a help-side shot blocking threat, has no problem defending smaller players on the perimeter, and has the strength to shut players down on the block. Had some impressive coast-to-coast takes where he was just weaving through defenders with the ball to get to the rim.

If you haven’t heard of his name already you should get used to moving forward. One of the true big men of the weekend with a lot of physical might. Malik has matured size, coordination, and skill for age. Overwhelms defenders when he has the ball in his hands in the paint. Has lower body strength that is equally valuable to his upper body. Endures physicality taking on any challenge. Willingly will handle if necessary. Rim runs with pace and instinct. Plays above the rim with power. Slammed home multiple dunks on breakaways with one being for a reversal alley oop finish. Had multiple swats throughout the day. Ranked high for good reason and will continue to turn heads.

Malik was one of the most physically impressive bigs on the floor, already standing 6’8 with the athletic pop to match. He showed his strengths and abilities early by running the floor with purpose, finishing in transition, and using his length to create mismatches inside. When he grabbed a rebound, he didn’t just outlet… he pushed coast‑to‑coast, turning defense into instant offense and capping plays with powerful finishes on the other end. Martin’s combination of size, mobility, and intent makes him a tough cover at this level.

Malik showed why he’s the current #1 in Minnesota’s 2029 class on Friday night. Yes he had the three dunks showcasing his imposing blend of size, explosiveness, and strength as a freshman. But he also showed intriguing skill on the ball, weaving through defenders for coast-to-coast finishes in impressive fashion. He occasionally gets caught trying to do too much, but the way that Malik was getting past smaller defenders off the dribble was impressive to watch. Martin also added in a three and a nice fadeaway jumper showing promising shooting touch. He finished with 32 points in the loss to Hiawatha.

Malik showed the combination of current production and long-term upside that has him ranked #1 in the state’s 2029 class early on. At 6’7 he’s incredibly long, already has a good amount of muscle on him as a high schooler, and has a budding skillset. Malik showed flashes of handling the ball and pushing it up the floor on his own in transition, including a coast-to-coast finish off a defensive rebound. In the half-court he was at his best catching and facing up out of the high post area, where he could take opposing forwards off the dribble or spot an open teammate. His strength allowed him to overpower defenders at the rim, and I thought he did a nice job of gathering his balance before going up to finish on most of his drives.