Other than his encounters with a couple of current Jayhawks in the two games Arizona State played against Kansas during his time at ASU, Remy Martin does not have much of a relationship with the crew that soon could become his new teammates.
And that’s just the way he likes it.
Asked in a phone interview shortly after [his commitment to KU last month][1] if he knew any of his potential new teammates, Martin said, “not very well, which is exciting, man.”
“I’m excited to build a relationship with guys from the ground up and just being able to have something new,” he added. “I’m excited to develop a relationship with these guys and a strong relationship because I just think that when your relationship is a lot stronger, you tend to do more and you kind of want to help somebody more and just win basketball games. And that’s what’s important.”
Martin’s lack of familiarity with the Jayhawks makes sense for a couple of reasons.
First, the 2021-22 Kansas roster which he may join features nine new players from last season. Many of them are expected to report to campus this weekend in time for the start of summer workouts next week.
Beyond that, Martin, who will turn 23 on June 16, also would be one of the older players on KU’s roster and the only player from the 2017 recruiting class on KU’s squad. Players in the same class often get to know each other by competing together or against each other at AAU events or camps.
KU’s 2017 recruiting class was made up of Marcus Garrett, Silvio De Sousa and Billy Preston.
Super senior Mitch Lightfoot is the only player on KU’s roster who appeared in the game between KU and Arizona State in Lawrence in December of 2017, when Martin came off the bench to score 21 points in 32 minutes in an ASU upset.
And Lightfoot (8 minutes) and David McCormack (11) were the only current Jayhawks who played in the rematch with the Sun Devils in Arizona the following year.
Martin, who committed to KU after announcing his plans to test his NBA draft stock this offseason, is still exploring his NBA options. He has until July 7 to make a final decision about whether to stay in the draft or come to Kansas.
[His addition to the roster became official last week,][2] when his paperwork arrived at the KU basketball offices.
And while playing in the NBA has been a lifelong goal of his, Martin made it clear after he committed that playing at Kansas would be the thrill of a lifetime, as well.
“Playing for a guy like coach (Bill) Self and at a historic program like KU, it’s just an amazing deal for me, man, and I couldn’t turn that down,” Martin said in May.
He also referenced the educational bonus that would come with making the move to KU.
“I want to make sure I get my master’s,” he said. “That’s probably the most important thing for me right now, just being able to do that and get my master’s and kill two birds with one stone. That’s a win-win situation for me (and) my master’s is very important to me.”
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/may/17/arizona-state-transfer-remy-martin-commits-kansas/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/may/26/transfer-guards-remy-martin-jalen-coleman-lands-of/
