The Memphis Grizzlies selected LSU forward Jarell Martin with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, General Manager Chris Wallace announced tonight.
Martin (6-10, 235) played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at Louisiana State University, guiding the Tigers to two postseason appearances – the 2014 National Invitation Tournament as a freshman and the 2015 NCAA Tournament as a sophomore. Named All-American Honorable Mention by The Associated Press last season, Martin finished his collegiate career with averages of 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30.7 minutes in 65 games (57 starts) for the Tigers.
A consensus First Team All-SEC selection last season, Martin posted 16.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 35.1 minutes in 33 games (32 starts) as a sophomore, ranking third in the Southeastern Conference in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage (.509) and fourth in minutes per game. The 21-year-old recorded 15 double-doubles, including five in the final seven games of the season, and led the Tigers in free throws made (140). Along with teammate Jordan Mickey, Martin became the first LSU player to record at least 300 rebounds in a season since Glen Davis in 2007.
Martin was tabbed to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 26.2 minutes in 32 games (25 starts) in his first collegiate season. The Baton Rouge, La. native was the winner of the 2013 Mr. Basketball award given by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association to the top player in the state of Louisiana after leading Madison Prep to the school's first state title in Class B in 2013.