The Wolfpacker

MAY 2014 ■ 37 ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ish with 21 turnovers. Martin converted the turnovers into points, scoring 19 of his 22 in the second half, to help propel a 64-56 vic- tory over Findlay. Martin and Oak Hill were able to experi- ence another thrill by playing in famed Mad- ison Square Garden the next day against eventual champion Montverde (Fla.) Acad- emy. Oak Hill fell 71-62, but the experience was a memorable one. "That was an awesome experience," Cody said. "I'm glad we had the opportunity to do that and play at Madison Square Garden. I wish the outcome were a little bit different. A lot of kids don't get to do that, and it was awesome." Martin finished the three-game showcase tournament averaging 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest. He shot 24 of 47 from the field for 51.1 percent, 2 of 8 on three- pointers and 3 of 5 at the free throw line. Martin enjoyed having the pressure of trying to help carry the team. "It was good, and I knew that everyone had confidence in me," Cody said. "If we needed something, they would look to me." Martin didn't get much chance to watch NC State play this season. Access to watch- ing college basketball is limited at Oak Hill, and the Warriors also had 45 games to play of their own, plus five scrimmages. He did get a break to go home to Mocksville when the NCAA Tournament started, and watched the 74-59 win over Xavier March 18 and the tough 83-80 overtime loss March 20 vs. Saint Louis. "I learned you have to make free throws," Cody said. "They were a scrappy team and they keyed on T.J. [Warren]. Even at the end, they had the game won, but they didn't hit free throws. "I'm starting to shoot more free throws. You never take free throws serious until you lose a game by them. I don't want to even take that chance." Martin is excited to help NC State reach another level of success. He looks forward to learning from veteran wings such as ris- ing fifth-year senior Ralston Turner, senior Desmond Lee and redshirt junior Trevor Lacey. "I like it because I know we'll have peo- ple on the team who will work hard and not give up their spot," Cody said. "You have to compete. I'm not looking for a starting spot. I just want to play hard and practice hard. I'm going to do everything in my power to get as many minutes as I can." Martin is a different kind of small forward than T.J. Warren, but that doesn't mean that he didn't learn from watching the scoring whiz. "Every time I watched him, nobody could stop him from scoring," Cody said. "Just watching him, you know you have to be ag- gressive. When I went to State, every time I saw him, it was in the gym. He put in work "I'm not looking for a starting spot. I just want to play hard and practice hard. I'm going to do everything in my power to get as many minutes as I can." ■ Cody Martin 36-38.Martin Twins.indd 37 4/29/14 1:24 PM

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