11/22/2011
By LARRY MORITZ Salina Journal
Shaelyn Martin could have held off another two years before making this decision. When she got the offer she truly wanted, Martin didn’t see a reason to make anyone wait.
Less than two weeks before the first game of her sophomore season, Martin has already given the Kansas State women’s basketball program an oral commitment for the 2014-15 season.
A Kansas State fan for many years, when the Wildcats made a scholarship offer last month Martin didn’t need long to mull it over.
"I’ve gone to their camps since I was little," said Martin, who hopes to study sports nutrition. "They have the school program I want and the staff is amazing.
"It just feels like home to me."
Martin informed Kansas State head coach Deb Patterson of her decision after Friday night’s game with Missouri State. Although Martin’s announcement is a non-binding agreement until she officially signs her letter of intent her senior year, the idea of playing at K-State is something she has been considering for a long time.
"I’ve been going to games since I was little," Martin said. "I don’t know what age I was but I was there for the game when K-State won the Big 12 conference (in 2004). I got these big eyes and I said to my mom ‘I’m playing here some day.’"
Martin was also eager to put the pressures associated with recruiting behind her. Although college coaches are allowed to continue to their recruiting efforts until she signs, Martin believes some of the letters and the calls she would receive will be cut back because she has announced her decision.
"It just felt right," said Martin, whose brother also plans to attend K-State starting next year. "It is really early, but it relieves a lot of the pressure for me, knowing where my future is going to be and what I want to work toward.
"There still might be a little bit of recruiting since it is a verbal commitment, but there won’t be nearly as much contact."
Martin earned first team all-league and all-county honors as a freshman. A 6-foot-1 guard, she averaged 9.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.2 assists a game during her first season.
Central head coach Geoff Andrews, who will have Martin on his team for the next three seasons, said it was easy to see Kansas State and coach Patterson were committed to adding Martin to their roster.
"There is a lot of loyalty there," Andrews said. "You can see it when coach Patterson comes out to watch a sophomore play volleyball when she is recruiting that girl for basketball.
"Even when she is playing volleyball, you can see the skills that she has. She has that passion for sports and passion for winning, and I think that is one of the things coach Patterson liked about her."
Martin and her Mustang teammates will open the 2011-12 season Friday, Dec. 2 when they play Andover Central at the Salina Central gym.

---

Discuss This Story:

---