Tweeted that he will be a Butler Bulldog.

 

Congrats to Kelan.

Congratulations to him. Lots of big-time games to be played in that league.

He'll be a great fit there. Like Kameron Woods. There's a Louisville pipeline to Butler now.

Congrats young man!!!

This kid has me intrigued as to how his game fits at the D1 level.

 

Congrats to him.

This kid has me intrigued as to how his game fits at the D1 level.

 

Agreed. Right now he is a 6-4 or so power forward with decent ball skills that tends to be a volume scorer. You don't see many of those at the highest level. Intriguing kid...

Agreed. Right now he is a 6-4 or so power forward with decent ball skills that tends to be a volume scorer. You don't see many of those at the highest level. Intriguing kid...

 

Not very explosive from what I've seen. 3 would be a tough spot to put him in. Strong with a thick base. Can he score from the post against bigger guys?

Not very explosive from what I've seen. 3 would be a tough spot to put him in. Strong with a thick base. Can he score from the post against bigger guys?

 

Below the rim guy for sure. I've seen a lot of people project him to the 3, but like you I don't see it. Decent back to the basket game, but it isn't going to work at his height in a power conference IMO.

 

Was sitting with a bunch of D1 assistants in Indy this summer and it was literally split down the middle. Half thought he had a bright future and the other half saw a very tough road to quality minutes. There was zero middle ground...

He has a knack for putting the biscuit in the basket. Congrats to him.

It does seem like he has continually been working on his outside game. How that works out for him at the next level remains to be seen. I look forward to following his senior year and college career.

 

 

Congrats to Kelan!!!

Guys with his frame make nice defensive stoppers who do just enough on offense with rebound-kicks, put-backs, knowing their role and staying out of the way, etc. to find a niche. I'm guessing anything he adds offensively as far as scoring goes will only be a bonus. Maybe he's a Ben Wallace type 4 on Butler's level. Butler really doesn't have an opportunity to get the kids who are "do-it all" blue-chipper types. They usually have a nice blend on slower guards who can stretch the floor and fill it up paired with some thick wings who can use their frame to their advantage on the defensive end and try to make up for whatever their shooters lack of foot speed loses on the other end. Butler is all about efficiency, so I'm sure they have a role for Martin in mind. My guess is the defensive stopper whose offense outside of 15' is just gravy until he's developed further.

 

Watching the highlight tape linked below (and having seen him play a few times too), I see a guy who uses his body well (shielding the ball by holding it across his frame), can finish through contact, and knows his limits. At the same time, his lateral quickness just isn't there, and I don't see him getting away with throwing that crossover too often at the highest D1 level. He looks comfortable shooting out to three, especially in a catch-and-shoot situation, but I don't know if he has the consistency, elevation, and release needed to be a real offensive threat (but again, he obviously still has some time to develop that).

 

One thing we might be underestimating is his ability to go one on one with the shooters he'll have flanking him stretching the floor. His stroke in the 12'-15' range looks smooth. Maybe he gets in the strength and conditioning program and gets his body where it needs to be in order to play out on the wing and just back guys down and play bullyball because they'll be forced to guard him straight up. If you have to put your worst defender on him, maybe he can do enough to hurt him offensively (this is the biggest reason why I think his defensive presence may be one of the bigger things Butler's staff sees in him, because I don't see him ever really being a focal point of the Butler offense).

 

 

Who exactly does he guard in the Big East? He lacks the lateral quickness to guard high major 3s and will struggle to guard most 4s because of his lack of size. Not exactly the makings of a lock down defender...

What schools are in the new Big East in 2014-15?

What schools are in the new Big East in 2014-15?

 

Georgetown, Nova, Marquette, Xavier, Providence, St John's, Seton Hall, Creighton, DePaul and Butler...

Thanks, GT!