Former Utah guard Ian Martinez transferring to Maryland
SALT LAKE CITY (BVM) – Just two weeks after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal in the wake of Craig Smith’s hiring as the Utah men’s basketball coach, Ian Martinez has announced his transfer to Maryland.
The journey continues💪🏾
LET’S GET IT🔥 pic.twitter.com/PpDTHXKLsP— Ian Martinez (@IanJumaine) April 20, 2021
The freshman guard played in all 25 games for the Utes last season and despite relatively pedestrian numbers (5.2 points on 49.5% shooting) in limited action (15.8 minutes), Martinez finished the season as one of the team’s most promising young players. He scored a career-high 18 points on 70% shooting in 29 minutes in Utah’s double-overtime loss to USC in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal.
Martinez joined the Utes as a four-star recruit out of JSerra Catholic and joined his father, Henry, who became a full-time assistant on former head coach Larry Krystkowiak’s staff. A native of Heredia, Costa Rica, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 23.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a high school senior.
Ian Martinez gets SAUCY and drops 32pts!!!! 🔥 😱 @Ianjumaine #ballislife pic.twitter.com/O9jNKGLW7P
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 29, 2019
Former Georgetown center Qudus Wahab and former Rhode Island point guard Fatts Russell join Martinez as transfers to Maryland under head coach Mark Turgeon. Each of the Terps’ 13 allotted scholarships are accounted for after Martinez’ commitment, but there could end up being some vacancies.
Junior guards Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala have declared for the NBA Draft, but are retaining their eligibility and keeping the door open for a return. Senior guard Darryl Morsell has also entered his name both into the NBA Draft, as well as the transfer portal, but a return to College Park is not out of the question.
Any or all of those backcourt departures could open up minutes for Martinez on a Maryland squad that finished 17-14 before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.
