USI transfer Taelon Martin's long journey from 4-star recruit to fourth college

EVANSVILLE — Taelon Martin hadn’t touched a basketball in months. The University of Southern Indiana transfer commit and former Rivals four-star prospect — who had offers from Connecticut, Syracuse, Rutgers, Marquette and more coming out of high school — stepped away from the game he loved after his freshman season at Division III St. Joseph. The Springfield, Massachusetts, native’s original plan was to transfer to a D-I school but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that, so he put everything aside for a year.

“My mind was just somewhere else,” he told the Courier & Press after he announced last week he will transfer to USI, his fourth college.

That year took its toll on him, but the 6-foot-5 guard eventually wanted to get back in.

“It kind of made me realize, don’t take it for granted,” Martin said. “It just all went away because I wasn’t focused and taking it for granted at the moment. My mindset changed drastically.”

USI men's basketball: Screaming Eagles have 'work ahead of us' after first D-I season comes to an end

Then came Nov. 19, 2020. NBA Draft day.

Rob Kelly, Martin’s former teacher, coach and someone he calls his “mentor,” always sends him a message during the draft. Martin personally knew some members of that draft class: RJ Hampton and Cole Anthony being a couple.

“I think that resonated with him a little bit differently,” Kelly said.

Martin responded to Kelly saying he wanted to get back in the game. Kelly ran a program that began working at 5 a.m. and said Martin had some problems getting “getting up on time and that sort of way." But Martin was welcome to come.

Kelly received a text from Martin at about 4:40 a.m. that he was going to get back in the gym.

There was a lot of work to get Martin back to being a D-I player. That was to be expected for someone who hadn’t played in more than six months, but he was doing what was needed.

“He was really, really diligent in fighting through and taking off all that rust and put himself back on position to give himself a shot,” Kelly said. “I think it helped having some other mentees in the program who he saw go through the process, as well, and get to the point where they were successful. He kind of followed suit and followed their example.”

Having Kelly to help him on that road was huge for Martin. Kelly helps him through life, keeping him grounded and being one of the first people he calls whenever something happens, good or bad.

“I look at him as a father figure,” Martin said. “He’s the only person I can trust around like that, other than my mom.”

That was Martin’s starting point on his path to USI. Although there have been many other turns along the way, his “perseverance” and “resilience” got him to Evansville's West Side, Kelly said.

Taelon Martin’s time in Division III to junior college

Martin couldn’t go straight to a Division I program because he was academically ineligible coming out of high school.

“I took it for granted," he said.

He instead went to St. Joseph, a D-III school in Connecticut, where he played for former UConn coach Jim Calhoun. Martin had a good season for the Bluejays, averaging 10.6 points on 50.9% shooting in the 2019-20 campaign.

“I think, ultimately, going to play that year for Coach Calhoun (at the) Division III level really benefitted him,” said College of Southern Idaho assistant coach Ryan Lundgren, who later recruited Martin. “He was coached hard and it was still a high level of basketball. He still had some things, maturity-wise, to work through and that was good for him.”

But then the pandemic arrived and, for Martin, basketball and school left.

Returning to a top-division level was only part of his battle. Martin didn’t have any schools actively looking at him so JUCO was his best option. He lost his college credits with his year away and needed to earn those back, as well. But he was determined.

Martin paid out of his own pocket to attend a JUCO camp in Indiana, where Kelly told him teams were scouting the three-day event. Martin played well and earned several offers. That’s when he committed to CSI and “everything changed.”

“They welcomed me with open arms,” Martin said. “It was definitely a hard thing. I feel like it was all about my mindset.”

He then credited Kelly for helping him get through everything while CSI head coach Jeff Reinert said Kelly is “absolutely a diamond in (Martin’s) life.” Lundgren heard about Martin from a scout in Florida who had seen him play. He was told Martin was someone to look into.

“As I got to know him,” Lundgren said, “I saw a really good person who wanted another chance and obviously had the talent.

“I tried to un-turn as many rocks as I could, talk to people about him. Just talking to Taelon, his personality, his smile: His energy is infectious. He’s a positive kid, he’s enjoyable to be around. I think, ultimately, those are the things that make up why he’s got a lot of positive character traits and he’s a good teammate and a coachable kid.”

Martin spent the summer in Twin Falls, Idaho, attending school to get caught up on his credits. He finished his classes with all A’s and B’s while working out and getting into shape for the season.

He was one of CSI’s top players in the fall before starting 32 of 33 games while he averaged 12.3 points on 42% shooting. He helped lead the Golden Eagles to the national tournament, and D-I schools were taking notice again.

USI recruited Martin 'like nothing changed'

After talking with several D-I programs, including USI, Martin committed to Eastern Kentucky last spring. He has the qualities programs seek: He's long and athletic, gets downhill, can be a dynamic playmaker and is a good shooter.

However, a car crash forced him to redshirt this season and stay on the sidelines after appearing in just two games for the Colonels. He entered the portal and back came USI to recruit him.

“You’re gonna see a physical specimen. He looks the part,” Reinert said. “We used him basically as a spot-up shooter to start the year and he was great.”

He had a long journey to get back to the D-I level. He, again, credited Kelly for helping him reach that point. Martin will be considered a redshirt junior with at least two years of eligibility remaining.

“It’s hard, but I never lost faith and I just kept pushing and pushing and making the best of every chance I can,” Martin said. “When I got the chance or the opportunity to do so, that’s what it came down to.”

Martin added that the Screaming Eagles’ coaches recruited him “nonstop” and showed him they wanted him. He held other offers but felt USI and his relationship with coach Stan Gouard was the best option for him.

“Coach Gouard is somebody I could trust with me and my future,” Martin said. “They understood (when I went to Eastern Kentucky) and were very understanding. They showed nothing but the same love when I entered the portal again, like nothing changed.

“I’m just ready, man. I can’t wait to get to USI.”

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Taelon Martin transfers to USI men's basketball program