The Louisiana boys basketball state playoffs started yesterday and Louisville recruit Jarell Martin did not disappoint in his debut. Martin, the 6-9 junior from Madison Prep in Baton Rouge, put up 34 points, 9 rebounds, 9 steals and 5 blocked shots en route to his team’s 118-36 win. College scouts from both Arizona and LSU were on hand to witness the lanky forward dominate the competition. Louisville coach Rick Pitino caught Martin in action a few weeks ago in Baton Rouge and has compared the 4-star forward to his former Kentucky player and NBA all-star, Antoine Walker. With guard skills in a big man’s body, Martin has drawn the attention of other big time schools and has offers from Alabama, Baylor, Georgetown, Marquette, Memphis, Texas and the aforementioned LSU and Arizona. Martin took an unofficial visit to Louisville back in January to watch the Cards dismantle DePaul and his high school coach told Inside The Ville’s Mike Hughes that he was “blown away by the school and its facilities.”

With a huge emphasis on making a splash in the 2013 class, Pitino is sure to keep a close eye on Martin this spring and summer.