Martin looks forward to first recruiting class
Frank Martin hates monotony.
At age 19, he worked at a bank and quickly grew bored of going through the same routine and dealing with the same people and problems every day. That’s why the men’s basketball coach is looking forward to the challenge of bringing his first recruiting class to South Carolina.
“Recruiting is a beautiful animal because it keeps you in suspense, and you’re always trying to figure out the next relationship you need to build that’s going to help you in the world of recruiting,” he said.
As the Gamecocks prepare to host Morgan State at 7 p.m. this Friday, Martin and his staff are also focused on next year’s recruiting class. The signing period began on Wednesday, and while Martin did not comment on any specific athletes that USC is looking to bring in, he credited his staff for the work they have done to build relationships and trust with local students and coaches.
“We had to sign so many guys for this class that started right now, the Carrera class, that I was a little worried that we would fall behind with the [class of 2013],” Martin said. “I can’t say enough about my assistant coaches, and let me give a little credit to the guys that were here before us. They did a pretty good job of selling this program and this university with a lot of local recruiting.”
The “Carrera class,” as Martin called it, came up big in the Gamecocks’ overtime win over Milwaukee on Sunday. Forward Michael Carrera was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for his 17-point, 15-rebound performance.
Fifth-year senior transfer LaShay Page led the team in scoring in his Gamecock debut. Seventeen of his 19 points came in the second half, helping USC come back after trailing Milwaukee by 17 points.
Carrera and Page were among the few vocal players when the Gamecocks practiced on Tuesday. Martin joked at his Wednesday press conference when he asked reporters how they were doing and, receiving no response, said they sounded just like the team.
“I sure wish they would have been a little more excited about practice [Tuesday] when it started,” Martin said. “I think there were only three guys that said ‘Boo’ the first half-hour of practice, and that was LaShay (Page), Michael (Carrera) and Mindaugas (Kacinas). The rest of the guys I don’t think said a word the first half-hour of practice.”
Kacinas forced the overtime in Sunday’s game by making two out of three free throws with 18 seconds left in the second period. He finished the day with eight points and 13 rebounds.
Martin said the freshmen will have an easier time learning the new system he brings to USC because they do not have to change previous habits.
“The freshmen are learning what I tell them to do for the first time,” Martin said. “The upperclassmen are learning it also, but they’ve been trained to play a different way, so it’s going to take time to change the comfort zone of how they used to play and they’re being asked to play.”