Former Utah guard Ian Martinez is transferring to Maryland, the rising sophomore announced via Instagram on Tuesday. Martinez becomes the third incoming transfer coach Mark Turgeon has secured this offseason.
Martinez should have a smaller role than the Terrapins’ other two transfers, center Qudus Wahab from Georgetown and point guard Fatts Russell from Rhode Island. But Martinez could factor into the rotation, particularly if one or both of Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala remain in the NBA draft rather than return to College Park.
Martinez featured in 25 games last season for the Utes, averaging 15.8 minutes on the floor. He scored 5.2 points per game, added 0.8 assists per contest and pulled down 1.9 rebounds each outing. He’s a former four-star recruit out of JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California.
At 6-foot-3, Martinez brings decent size to the guard position, and he’s able to play on or off the ball. He came on especially well down the stretch of the season for Utah, scoring a season high 18 points in the Pac-12 Tournament against No. 2-seed USC. He posted double-digit scoring efforts in four of his final six games of the campaign.
Former Utah guard Ian Martinez is transferring to Maryland basketball, he announces on Instagram.
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) April 20, 2021
Martinez averaged 5.2 ppg last season, but came on strong late w/double-digit point tallies in four of last six games pic.twitter.com/KYCzjbnYPp
With the NCAA’s blanket waiver allowing players to transfer without sitting out a season, there’s been considerable movement already this offseason. Maryland retooled its roster immediately with the additions of Russell and Wahab. Those players fill the two most glaring holes on the Terrapins’ 2020-21 squad: a primary ballhandler and interior presence.
But Maryland has also lost a few players, too. Darryl Morsell is keeping all of his options open by entering his name in the transfer portal and the NBA draft while retaining eligibility for a fifth season in College Park. Ayala and Wiggins — the team’s top two scorers — could both depart for the draft, but they also kept their eligibility intact.
The Terrapins also saw guard Aquan Smart enter the transfer portal in early April. 7-foot-2 forward Chol Marial transferred to Oregon State. And Jairus Hamilton, a 6-foot-7 forward, entered the transfer portal, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.
Those moves leave the roster largely in flux despite the new additions. However, if several of those players return, Maryland could be set up well for the upcoming season.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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