LN player commits to Louisville

By Kyle Neddenriep
kyle.neddenriep@indystar.com

With minimal varsity basketball experience, Justin Martin's name probably doesn't elicit much response in high school basketball circles -- not yet.

But Martin's 6-7 frame and feathery outside shooting touch were enough to impress Louisville coach Rick Pitino. On Monday, the Lawrence North junior orally committed to the Cardinals over Xavier.

Martin visited the Louisville campus last weekend with his parents, cementing his decision.

"A lot of it was coach Pitino," Martin said. "It's not just about basketball with him; he prepares his players for life."

Martin joins high school teammate Stephan Van Treese as a Louisville commitment. Van Treese, a senior, will sign with the Cardinals next week. Lawrence North also has junior Dominique Ferguson, a Kentucky recruit.

Lawrence North coach Jack Keefer said Martin, who played shooting guard and small forward on the junior varsity as a sophomore, has "tremendous upper body strength and a great shot."

"He wasn't in our regular rotation last year because he didn't have a lot of experience and was a little inconsistent as a young player," Keefer said. "But he had a really good season on the JV team and was a very important part of that group."

Martin said he didn't necessarily want to make a decision before the start of the season, but said the early commitment "should make life easier."

"I feel like I have a big chip on my shoulder," Martin said. "I have a lot to prove this season."