Just hours until the transfer portal officially closes, Maryland head coach Kevin Willard will now have one more scholarship to work with as veteran guard Ian Martinez has hit the transfer portal.
It’s a big blow for a backcourt that exudes experience and is in need of filling a starting role. Martinez was expected to play a big role on next year’s roster with a potential starting spot available as Willard and the coaching staff are tasked with replacing Don Carey’s role as the starting guard alongside Jahmir Young. Maryland also adds four-star freshman Deshawn Harris-Smith and are days removed from the official signing of former LMU guard Chance Stephens, but now, Maryland’s backcourt loses an experienced piece.
Along with serving as Maryland’s go-to defender, Martinez gave the Terps’ roster athleticism and was able to give the offense a boost off the bench at times. The veteran guard played a key role in Maryland’s backcourt last season as the sixth man, averaging 5.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while playing in all 35 games. He also notched 14 steals and ten blocks on the season while recording double-figures in four games. Martinez made his first start during the 2022-23 season against Saint Peter’s back in December.
Martinez, a 6-foot-3 guard, picked up where he left off after playing in 28 games as a sophomore after averaging 2.8 points in 12.5 minutes. Martinez joined the program under former head coach Mark Turgeon after a family connection to former assistant Matt Brady brought him to College Park from Utah. With the Utes, Martinez played in 25 games while averaging 5.2 points per game. Martinez missed the bulk of summer workouts after signing with Maryland following surgery on a torn meniscus.
Martinez becomes the latest departure for Maryland this offseason, joining Hakim Hart (Villanova), Ike Cornish (Ohio), Pavlo Dziuba, Arnaud Revaz and walk-on Brett Karkaus.
Martinez now enters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining. Along with Young, Harris-Smith and Stephens, Maryland also returns veteran point guard Jahari Long and signed former SFA guard Jahnathan Lamothe, who will arrive in June.
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