NBA Draft 2019: Analyzing under the radar mid-major basketball selections
By Zac Voynow
Cody Martin, Nevada
Cody Martin was the first mid-major player I’ll be discussing that got selected in the NBA draft. The Charlotte Hornets selected him 36th overall.
Martin has seen more exposure than the typical mid-major star. He started his career at NC State before transferring with his twin brother, Caleb, to Nevada. Then at Nevada, he helped lead the Wolf Pack to a cinderall-esque Sweet 16 run. Oddly enough, Caleb Martin was known as the better of the two brothers, but Cody found himself being selected on draft night.
Martin averaged 12.1 points, 4.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game last season. He’s an efficient scorer, shooting 50.5% from the field, 35.8% from three, and 76.3% from the free throw line.
He can really fill it up, and although he may not be as flashy as his brother, Cody has the intangibles and skillset to make him a solid role player in the NBA. He can score the ball in every way imaginable, but what sets him apart from other prospects is his size and playmaking abilities. Martin is a 6’6″, athletic wing who crashes the boards on both ends of the court efficiently. He also has point guard-like ball handling skills, and an above average passing IQ. He has a high ceiling, and I think he’s only scratching the surface of the player he can potentially become.