Earlier in the week, Remy Martin, the 6-foot-0, 175-pound point guard from Chatsworth, Calif., announced his decision to transfer from Arizona State to Kansas. This past season, Martin averaged 19.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Offensively, he shot 43 percent from the field, 35 percent from behind the arc, and 78 percent from the free-throw line. Currently, Martin is still going through the NBA draft process, but of all the people I've talked to within the last week, they all expect him to eventually remove his name from the draft and finish his career at Kansas. Now, I'm not saying this is 100 percent certain and nothing has been decided at this time. However, the feeling is Martin will get the necessary feedback, spend a year playing for Bill Self on a national stage, and better prepare himself for the 2022 NBA draft.
Even before I made a few calls about Martin, I was of the opinion that he would ultimately make the decision to return to the college game. I truly believe that playing for Self at Kansas for a season and surrounding himself with a great deal of talent, will allow his game to flourish and he'll become an even better player than what we saw at Arizona State. Playing on the ball and playing with so much talent would absolutely allow Martin to shine on a national stage, and not be forced to carry the load by himself.
I posted an update earlier in the week with some quotes and told you that I'd post some additional quotes before the end of the week. Well, here are some additional quotes for you all.
Q: First off, obviously it all happened pretty fast. I'm curious when you first heard from KU and how long did it take for you to start considering that Kansas might be the right place for you?
A: It was pretty quick, man. It was just being able to... I've known coach Townsend since high school man. So he recruited me when I was in high school and just kind of great to come full circle and to be able to communicate with him and then getting to talk to Coach Self not too long ago was honestly amazing. It was an honor man, to be able to feel wanted, and for them to kind of... I've always ever since I played with... against you guys, as a freshman, I've always just loved Kansas, man. I've always wanted to go there and it's just kind of cool just to be able to come full circle and play for KU and Coach Self and the program and the guys, that some of them hopefully come back and just get to play and have fun, man. I just want to have fun and play Allen Fieldhouse with the fans, being able to enjoy that. The way I play, I love interacting with the fans. I love people. So, I'm just so excited, but the decision was... It was pretty, it was pretty easy, man. Probably what a guy like... For Coach Self and just KU and the historic program and the guys that... The pieces that we're having and just, it was an amazing deal for me. And I couldn't turn that down.
Q: Well, what did they tell you about fit? Because this is a position they needed to fill, they needed a point guard, they needed a shooter, they needed some experience back there in the backcourt, you kind of fill all those roles. What... Did they talk too much about it with you yet? Or, or not?
A: No, not too detailed. They said exactly kind of what you said and just ultimately just a player, right? Just another player that wants to win just as bad as they all do. And just to go out there and play my game and play like I've been playing and hopefully just get more wins. I mean, I'm all about wins. That's all I want to do. Nobody cares about too much. I'm not high maintenance or anything. I just want to go out there and play and just have fun, but he was just telling me just how bad he wants me. And then I was just reciprocating that same energy.
Q: When do you think you'll come to KU, early June or?
A: I don't know, I haven't talked to him yet, but I... I'm definitely going to see how this process plays out and as soon as that happens. I'll get that information a little bit sooner. But as of right now, I don't know. I don't know. I want to be out there now. If that was up to me. But right now, I've just got to go through this process.
Q: Yeah. What do you remember about the two games against KU?
A: Well the first game, and it was just a fun atmosphere; I loved it. The energy of the crowd and I love playing my best games are pretty much all away just because it's just, how I am. I just kind of had that chip on my shoulder when I play. And I want to... it just gives me more motivation when we're on the opposing team. But just the fans and how the atmosphere was. It was just felt big time. It felt like that's how basketball is supposed to be. In the second game when it was at back at home, obviously the amazing crowd there as well, but just being able to play again, K.U.- Is cool and I think that the experiences and just being able to play against a coach, like a Coach Self, and to make an adjustment. And it's just like the game is so different, when it's legendary moments.
Q: So you could have gone the grad transfer route. So this isn't, this isn't totally that way, but I guess this... Will you be a super senior then if you come here? Is that... are you taking advantage of that rule?
A: I have no idea. I just know that-
Q: Yeah, right.
A: I just know that if there's... If this process doesn't go as well as I would like it, I'm going to be going to Kansas and make sure I get my master's, 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 man, that's a win-win situation for me, but my master's is very important to me. And that's the main goal, but hopefully, it's kind of weird to say hopefully I don't make it to the leagues I can play in, but I'm really excited for what the future holds.
Q: Would you describe yourself as a Russell Westbrook or who would you compare yourself to?
A: I think I'm a mixture of a lot of people, man. I think my game is definitely different than others, man. I just, I bring a lot of energy, I love making the right play and just kind of playing that... I'm a small guard, and Russell Westbrook definitely a little bigger than me, so I can't be him if, even if I wanted to. But just being able to bring that energy, bring that fierce competitiveness to the game, and also being able to control the game, like somebody like Chris Paul, which I want to be able to display when I'm at K.U. But I think I'm a mixture of everybody, I think I'm honestly, a different type of player I just love this game. I just go out there and play. I just, I want to change the game and bring energy, but I think I'm a mixture of a lot of things.
Q: Hey Remy, real quick. Do you know any of these guys on, on this KU roster very well or, or at all?
A: No, not very well. Not very well, which is exciting, man, which is exciting for me to build the relationship with guys from the ground. And just being able to... Just being able to have something new and I'm excited to develop a relationship with these guys. And a strong relationship because I just say that whenever relationship is a lot stronger, you tend to do more and you tend to want to help somebody more and just win basketball games and that's what's important.
Even before I made a few calls about Martin, I was of the opinion that he would ultimately make the decision to return to the college game. I truly believe that playing for Self at Kansas for a season and surrounding himself with a great deal of talent, will allow his game to flourish and he'll become an even better player than what we saw at Arizona State. Playing on the ball and playing with so much talent would absolutely allow Martin to shine on a national stage, and not be forced to carry the load by himself.
I posted an update earlier in the week with some quotes and told you that I'd post some additional quotes before the end of the week. Well, here are some additional quotes for you all.
Q: First off, obviously it all happened pretty fast. I'm curious when you first heard from KU and how long did it take for you to start considering that Kansas might be the right place for you?
A: It was pretty quick, man. It was just being able to... I've known coach Townsend since high school man. So he recruited me when I was in high school and just kind of great to come full circle and to be able to communicate with him and then getting to talk to Coach Self not too long ago was honestly amazing. It was an honor man, to be able to feel wanted, and for them to kind of... I've always ever since I played with... against you guys, as a freshman, I've always just loved Kansas, man. I've always wanted to go there and it's just kind of cool just to be able to come full circle and play for KU and Coach Self and the program and the guys, that some of them hopefully come back and just get to play and have fun, man. I just want to have fun and play Allen Fieldhouse with the fans, being able to enjoy that. The way I play, I love interacting with the fans. I love people. So, I'm just so excited, but the decision was... It was pretty, it was pretty easy, man. Probably what a guy like... For Coach Self and just KU and the historic program and the guys that... The pieces that we're having and just, it was an amazing deal for me. And I couldn't turn that down.
Q: Well, what did they tell you about fit? Because this is a position they needed to fill, they needed a point guard, they needed a shooter, they needed some experience back there in the backcourt, you kind of fill all those roles. What... Did they talk too much about it with you yet? Or, or not?
A: No, not too detailed. They said exactly kind of what you said and just ultimately just a player, right? Just another player that wants to win just as bad as they all do. And just to go out there and play my game and play like I've been playing and hopefully just get more wins. I mean, I'm all about wins. That's all I want to do. Nobody cares about too much. I'm not high maintenance or anything. I just want to go out there and play and just have fun, but he was just telling me just how bad he wants me. And then I was just reciprocating that same energy.
Q: When do you think you'll come to KU, early June or?
A: I don't know, I haven't talked to him yet, but I... I'm definitely going to see how this process plays out and as soon as that happens. I'll get that information a little bit sooner. But as of right now, I don't know. I don't know. I want to be out there now. If that was up to me. But right now, I've just got to go through this process.
Q: Yeah. What do you remember about the two games against KU?
A: Well the first game, and it was just a fun atmosphere; I loved it. The energy of the crowd and I love playing my best games are pretty much all away just because it's just, how I am. I just kind of had that chip on my shoulder when I play. And I want to... it just gives me more motivation when we're on the opposing team. But just the fans and how the atmosphere was. It was just felt big time. It felt like that's how basketball is supposed to be. In the second game when it was at back at home, obviously the amazing crowd there as well, but just being able to play again, K.U.- Is cool and I think that the experiences and just being able to play against a coach, like a Coach Self, and to make an adjustment. And it's just like the game is so different, when it's legendary moments.
Q: So you could have gone the grad transfer route. So this isn't, this isn't totally that way, but I guess this... Will you be a super senior then if you come here? Is that... are you taking advantage of that rule?
A: I have no idea. I just know that-
Q: Yeah, right.
A: I just know that if there's... If this process doesn't go as well as I would like it, I'm going to be going to Kansas and make sure I get my master's, 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 man, that's a win-win situation for me, but my master's is very important to me. And that's the main goal, but hopefully, it's kind of weird to say hopefully I don't make it to the leagues I can play in, but I'm really excited for what the future holds.
Q: Would you describe yourself as a Russell Westbrook or who would you compare yourself to?
A: I think I'm a mixture of a lot of people, man. I think my game is definitely different than others, man. I just, I bring a lot of energy, I love making the right play and just kind of playing that... I'm a small guard, and Russell Westbrook definitely a little bigger than me, so I can't be him if, even if I wanted to. But just being able to bring that energy, bring that fierce competitiveness to the game, and also being able to control the game, like somebody like Chris Paul, which I want to be able to display when I'm at K.U. But I think I'm a mixture of everybody, I think I'm honestly, a different type of player I just love this game. I just go out there and play. I just, I want to change the game and bring energy, but I think I'm a mixture of a lot of things.
Q: Hey Remy, real quick. Do you know any of these guys on, on this KU roster very well or, or at all?
A: No, not very well. Not very well, which is exciting, man, which is exciting for me to build the relationship with guys from the ground. And just being able to... Just being able to have something new and I'm excited to develop a relationship with these guys. And a strong relationship because I just say that whenever relationship is a lot stronger, you tend to do more and you tend to want to help somebody more and just win basketball games and that's what's important.
