By Robert Lastella
The Final Four can be overwhelming for some players, between playing in a massive football stadium, the crowd that comes with that, and the looming notion that if you lose, your season is over. There is a lot of pressure that comes with playing on the biggest of stages. But for FAU G Alijah Martin, this stage isn’t new to him, as he was a major contributor for FAU in their magical run to the final four just two seasons ago, and his experience could be pivotal for this Gators squad.
Martin is the first guard to start on two different Final Four teams in the tournament’s current format, and between his on-the-court contributions and leadership off the court, there is an argument to be had that he is one of the most valuable portal additions in its short history. There isn’t much you can do to teach experience and not only has Martin played in the Final Four before, he lost in heartbreaking fashion one game before the National Championship with a squad who defied expectations to get there, so it is safe to say that he was hungry to get back and change the narrative.
Narrative aside, Martin’s impact on this squad has proven fruitful throughout this season, and according to Florida Coach Todd Golden, he’s elevated everyone around him in the process.
“Yeah, he’s done it for us all year, to be honest (Lead). From the moment he got to campus in the summer, we knew that his experience and his mentality and the way he approached workouts and practice would really help this group.
I think he’s raised the bar for Walt and Will also, coming in, having that Final Four experience. Walt and Will have great experience, but they haven’t made it to this grand stage yet. Alijah had a lot of respect from our locker room because of that. Adding him, Rueben and Sam in that class, that’s really completed that group, and his leadership is a big part of that,” Golden said.
Walter Clayton Jr. and Martin have been the leading scorers all season long for UF, with Clayton averaging 18.1 PPG and 4.2 APG, while Martin is right behind him with 14.5 PPG and 4.6 RPG., and the two former mid-major stars have had no issue adjusting to the SEC. Although Golden and UF can’t be credited with the development of their two starting guards, getting them together in the same backcourt has allowed them to excel both on a personal level and as a team.
Experienced guards can take you far in March, and UF is an example of that, as they have executed the transfer portal flawlessly in finding two talented guards and combining them with an equally talented supporting cast, something that even teams with a greater NIL pool than Florida were unable to do. Martin is the most experienced of UF’s transfer pieces; however, according to Clayton, he came to UF with the idea that he had to prove himself to his teammates. Although that is not true (of course), it made those around him respect him even more.
“He has been here before, so he is very calm, cool, and collected at all times; he just knows how to say the right things at the right moments. It has been an all year thing for Alijah, ever since he has got here he has been in the gym working, he felt like he had to earn our respect, but from day one we have respected him, he is a great voice and leader, our coaches and us players couldn’t ask for a better leader,” Clayton said.
Martin has stepped into a leadership role with this Gators squad, but he was the same type of leader when he led FAU to their first Final Four in school history, with that “calm and cool” mantra Clayton described of him emulating the approach of his former coach, Dusty May. While some players thrive on being boisterous, Martin succeeds staying mainly in the shadows and it has helped him lead by example.
The leadership approach is a bit different this time around for Martin, who notes being a number one seed this year vs being an underdog while at FAU has changed things a little bit, but it has led to the same result in terms of success for his team.
“At FAU, we were not respected as much, which led to us sneaking up on teams, but here at Florida we are the top dog. It shows you how strong mentally we are to get over that hump because teams are coming out and giving us their best and we’re still coming out victorious,” Martin said.
Martin and the Gators will look to come out victorious two more times in the next three days, and if they are able to do that, Martin’s revenge arc from his devastating loss in the Final Four will be completed just two years later.
Photo Credits: ESPN
