AAC Basketball: 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jun 22, 2023

Mar 5, 2020; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson talks to guard Quentin Grimes (24) and guard Marcus Sasser (0) after a play against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. UConn defeated Houston 77-71. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

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AAC Basketball Memphis Tigers guard Jeremiah Martin Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

21. Jeremiah Martin

Martin stayed in his hometown of Memphis for his collegiate career but had quite the experience with the Tigers, playing under three different head coaches. This 6’3 point guard worked his way into the lineup as a freshman under Josh Pastner before being one of the best weapons Tubby Smith had during his two seasons at the helm. Martin’s senior season was by far his greatest under current head coach Penny Hardaway and there was a lot to like about his entire career there.

That sophomore season saw him lead the AAC in steals and emerge as a valuable scorer for the Tigers, though it paled in comparison to his upperclassman years. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in his junior season, with even better numbers the following season. While the Tigers never played in the NCAA Tournament during Martin’s career, he did have a few standout performances, including a 41-point outburst against South Florida during his senior season.

He wasn’t on campus for Memphis’s glory years, but the Tigers did average more than 20 wins a season with Martin on the roster. He led the AAC in scoring during a senior season that saw him named First Team All-AAC. Martin was a very important offensive piece for the Tigers, both scoring and distributing the ball and still sits high up a few AAC leaderboards as a result. Again, Memphis was far from elite during his playing days, but Martin was an important weapon.