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Saturday, December 16, 2000

By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin
Redshirt freshman Phil Martin, who was a prep star
in Canada, is getting a shot as a starter for Hawaii.

Northern exposure

Freshman Phil Martin, one
of two Canadians on the UH
basketball team, gets his
first start tonight

---

By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Wennington, Nash and Magliore don't resound like Jordan, Bird and Magic. But Canadians are beginning to make an impact in basketball -- more than 50 now play for American universities.

There is great talent in the Great White North. You just have to have great patience to locate it.

"It's sporadic," University of Hawaii assistant coach Scott Rigot said. "You have to sift through a lot of bad basketball. You walk into a gym of 15 kids, and maybe one makes you go 'ooh.' In Yugoslavia you see 15 and you have to decide which ones you want."

Two years ago, Rigot found guard Carl English and forward Phil Martin via the Canada Prep Stars program.

Both are redshirt freshmen, and Martin gets his first start tonight, as Hawaii (1-3) tries to come up with a winning combination against Texas-Pan American (3-4).

Tip-off is 7:07 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I'm very, very excited about it," Martin said. "I've been working hard to get my chance."

The 6-foot-7 post player was redshirted last year, partly because of an early season eligibility question and partly because he had a hard time learning the Rainbows' offense.

"Having watched others play for a year gives him a sense of intensity other guys might not have," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "He has quickness and athletic ability. He just needs to not panic and forget what he's supposed to do out there."

Martin replaces post Bosko Radovic in the starting lineup. Radovic is two inches taller than Martin, but not as effective around the basket, especially defensively.

Martin averages 2.8 points and 0.5 rebounds in 5.8 minutes a game. But he has provided glimpses of potential. In one preseason exhibition, he grabbed 10 rebounds, and in Saturday's loss against UCLA, Martin scored 6 points in 7 minutes.

The coaches hope he can take some pressure of Troy Ostler at the other post position, and also ignite Hawaii's transition game with another new starter, freshman point guard Jeep Hilton.

Martin played for Cathedral High School in Hamilton, Ontario. He said the team was ranked No. 1 in Canada, and that he gained confidence by playing in tournaments against top-level American high school teams.

Still, adjusting to college was a challenge, and Martin has come a long way on and off the court since he first arrived in Manoa.

"My first semester was not very good at all," he said.

The year of not playing in games was tough, but will help him in the long run, Martin said.

"The first year he was like a puppy that had lost its mother," academic counselor and adviser Adam Lockwood said. "He wasn't taking school as seriously as he should, but he found out what he needed to do to practice three hours a day and take care of his school responsibilities. He's matured and taken responsibility."

Now the Rainbows hope he can do that as their new starting forward.

"This is only the beginning," Martin said. "I just hope we progress and get better as a team."

Game day What: NCAA men's college basketball. Who: University of Hawaii (1-3) vs. Texas-Pan American (3-4). When: Today, 7:07 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center. TV: KFVE (Channel 5), live. Radio: Rainbow Sports Radio, KCCN-AM (1420), live. Tickets: $14 all lower level, $10 upper (adult), $8 student section, $7 upper (student). Available at Stan Sheriff Center box office, or call TicketPlus at 526-4400 for other outlets.