What’s it like to play for your dad? Brandon Martin is finding out
Forward Brandon Martin is one of nine new faces for this year’s South Carolina basketball team — but he’s anything but new to the Gamecock coaching staff.
Martin is the son of USC coach Frank Martin and announced in early summer he would be playing for his father after spending three seasons at USC Upstate. Brandon Martin played in 57 games with the Spartans and averaged 5.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Brandon Martin talked with The State’s Lou Bezjak during the team’s recent media day about this transition to the SEC and his expectations with the Gamecocks.
Bezjak: What’s been the most interesting part of your summer and preseason and getting used to a new school and new teammates?
Martin: It has been going good. We’ve got nine new guys and we all are adjusting. A few of these guys that have been here are all helping us. We are playing hard and pressing through. We just want to win games. As far as for me, I am learning to play basketball more structurally and harder, and it has helped me a lot. It has been a big adjustment but I am getting better.
Bezjak: What has been the toughest adjustment?
Martin: I would just say where to be in the plays and learning the offense, learning the defensive things as well. It is completely new, so you need to be in the right spots.
Bezjak: Do you have a sense yet of your role on the team or where you might fit in?
Martin: Just be a guy who comes in, rebounds and plays defense. Just do whatever the team needs me to do.
Bezjak: Give me a scouting report of your game.
Martin: I’m a guy who likes to drive, play defense and have a good mid-range jumper. I’m a guy who plays with a high motor.
Bezjak: Getting a chance to play for your dad, how do you separate him from being a dad and coach?
Martin: I see him every day now and it hasn’t been as weird as I thought it would be. I can’t complain. He is doing a good job separating being a father and coach. It has helped our relationship. I can just text him and say I want to watch film, or if I go home for the weekend, I can ask him questions and stuff. I use it to my advantage.
Bezjak: What is the biggest misconception people might have about your dad?
Martin: Probably that he is a real mean guy, but that isn’t the case at all. He is really a teddy bear and different than people see. He is a caring guy and the total opposite off the court than what people see on the court.
