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Erik Martin, born on May 26, 1971, is an American basketball coach and former player. He played one season of college basketball at TCU before transferring to Santa Ana College, a junior college in California, and later joined the University of Cincinnati in 1991. After going undrafted in the 1993 NBA draft, Martin played for various CBA teams and represented the United States national team twice, winning a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 1997 Tournament of the Americas. Following his playing career, Martin took up coaching and has held several assistant coach positions. As of 2025, he is the head coach for South Carolina State University's men's basketball team, entering his third season in that role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Erik Martin |
| Date of Birth | 26 May 1971 |
| Profession | Basketball player and coach |
| Alma Mater | University of Cincinnati (1993) |
| Height | 6-foot-7 (201 cm) |
| Weight | 220 lb (99 kg) |
| Hometown | West Covina, California |
| High School | Whittier Christian High School, La Habra, California |
| College | TCU, Santa Ana College (Rancho Santiago Junior College), University of Cincinnati |
| Teams Coached | South Carolina State University |
| Teams Played For | Yakima Sun Kings, Cincinnati Bearcats, Kansas State, West Virginia |
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What You'll Learn
Erik Martin's early life and basketball beginnings
Erik Martin, born on May 26, 1971, is a native of West Covina, California. He attended Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, California, where he played as a center and power forward. During his junior season, he averaged 21.9 points and 14.1 rebounds per game, earning the Most Valuable Player award in the 1-A league. He also secured a place in the All-Southern and All-State First Teams.
In his senior year, Martin continued his outstanding performance, averaging 24.1 points per game and once again being selected as first-team all-state. Additionally, he excelled academically, maintaining his status as an honor student. His impressive high school career led him to sign with TCU in February 1988.
Martin played one season of college basketball at TCU before transferring to Santa Ana College (previously known as Rancho Santiago Junior College) in California. During his time at Santa Ana College, Martin excelled on the court, averaging 22.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game over 37 games. He also set a program record for the highest field goal percentage in a single season, achieving an impressive 63.7%. His contributions helped Rancho Santiago win the state championship, and he was recognized with a selection to the All-State first team.
In 1991, Martin transferred again, this time to the University of Cincinnati, where he joined the Bearcats. During his time with the Bearcats, Martin experienced notable success. In 1992, the team reached the Final Four in the NCAA tournament. In a game against Southeast Missouri State in December 1992, Martin showcased his scoring prowess, shooting 10-for-11 from the field, which was the second-best shooting performance in Cincinnati's history at that time.
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College basketball career
Erik Martin, a native of West Covina, California, played basketball at Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, California. In 1988, he signed to play for TCU, where he played one season of college basketball. During his junior season at Whittier Christian, Martin averaged 21.9 points and 14.1 rebounds per game, earning the Most Valuable Player award in the 1-A league. He was selected for the All-Southern and All-State First Teams, and in his senior year, he averaged 24.1 points per game.
In April 1990, Martin announced his transfer to Santa Ana College (then called Rancho Santiago Junior College). At Rancho Santiago, he averaged 22.5 points (832 total) and 9.4 rebounds per game over 37 games, with an average of 25 points per game over 12 conference play games. He also set a program record for the highest field goal percentage in a single season at 63.7%. Martin was selected for the All-State first team, and Rancho Santiago won the state championship. In 2006, he was inducted into the Santa Ana College Hall of Fame.
In 1991, Martin transferred to the University of Cincinnati, joining the Bearcats with his junior college teammate Corie Blount. In his first year, he played in all 34 games, averaging 6.3 points and 4 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game. The Bearcats won the Great Midwest Conference tournament, advancing to the NCAA tournament. Martin played in all 5 games of the tournament, averaging 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. During the Final Four, he recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan.
Martin stayed at Cincinnati for his senior season in 1992–93. On December 11, 1992, he had a notable performance against Southeast Missouri State, shooting 10-for-11 from the field (90.9%), which was the second-best shooting performance in Cincinnati history at the time. On January 27, 1993, he recorded a career-high 6 steals against Xavier. He ended the season with averages of 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 27.1 minutes per game, having started all 31 games.
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Professional basketball career
Erik Martin, born on May 26, 1971, is a former professional basketball player and current basketball coach. A native of California, Martin played one season of college basketball at TCU before transferring to Santa Ana College, a junior college in California, where he was a first-team All-State selection.
In 1991, Martin joined the University of Cincinnati, and with the Bearcats, he reached the Final Four during the 1992 NCAA tournament. In his first year with the Bearcats, Martin played in all 34 games of the season, averaging 6.3 points and 4 rebounds while playing 16.4 minutes per game. During the Final Four, he recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan.
Martin stayed at Cincinnati for his senior season in 1992-93, where he had notable performances, including shooting 10-for-11 from the field against Southeast Missouri State and recording a career-high 6 steals against Xavier. He ended the season averaging 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 27.1 minutes per game, starting all 31 games.
After going undrafted in the 1993 NBA draft, Martin played for various CBA teams, including the Yakima Sun Kings, with whom he won the 1994-95 CBA season. He also played for the Idaho Stampede and the La Crosse Bobcats. In 1995, he was called up for the United States men's national basketball team for the first time, playing in the XII Pan American Games in Argentina, where he won a silver medal.
Martin also played internationally, spending time in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. In 2000, he played for the Luckipar Panthers in Taiwan, and the following season, he played for Denso Hoop Gang in Japan. From 2001 to 2002, he played for the Seoul SK Knights in South Korea, averaging 14.8 points and 12.3 rebounds per game over 45 games.
In 1997, Martin received a second call-up for Team USA and participated in the Tournament of the Americas in Uruguay, winning a gold medal.
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Coaching career
Erik Martin is currently the head coach of the men's basketball team at South Carolina State University, a role he has held for three seasons.
Martin began his coaching career in 2003 at Jacobs Center High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was the head coach of the junior varsity team and assistant coach for the varsity team. The following year, he joined Cincinnati State Technical and Community College as an assistant coach to Andre Tate, where he remained for two years.
In 2006, Martin made the move to NCAA Division I coaching, joining Bob Huggins' staff at Kansas State for the 2006-07 season. He followed Huggins to West Virginia when he became head coach there, working as an assistant coach beginning in the 2007-08 season.
Martin's playing career saw him represent the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, reaching the Final Four of the 1992 NCAA Tournament. He also played for various CBA teams and represented the United States national team twice, winning a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 1997 Tournament of the Americas.
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Erik Martin's personal life
Erik Martin, the basketball player and coach, was born on 26 May 1971 in West Covina, California. He attended Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, California, where he played as a center and power forward. After high school, Martin played one season of college basketball at TCU before transferring to Santa Ana College (then called Rancho Santiago Junior College). He then transferred again, this time to the University of Cincinnati, where he played for the Bearcats and reached the Final Four during the 1992 NCAA tournament.
After going undrafted in the 1993 NBA draft, Martin played for various CBA teams, including the Yakima Sun Kings, with whom he won the 1994-95 CBA season. He also played abroad in South Korea and Taiwan. Martin was a member of the United States men's national basketball team on two occasions: first in 1995 for the XII Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where he won a silver medal, and again in 1997 for the Tournament of the Americas in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he won a gold medal.
Following his playing career, Martin became a coach. He has held several assistant coach jobs, mainly for Bob Huggins at Kansas State and West Virginia. He is currently the head coach for the men's basketball team at South Carolina State University, entering his third season in that role.
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Frequently asked questions
Erik Martin was born on May 26, 1971, and is currently 52 years old.
Erik Martin played college basketball at TCU and later transferred to Santa Ana College, a junior college in California. He joined the University of Cincinnati in 1991 and played in the NCAA tournament in 1992. Assuming he started college at 18 years old, he would have been 20 or 21 years old during the 1991-1992 season.
Erik Martin was 49 years old in 2021 when he was an assistant coach for 15 seasons. He is now the head coach at South Carolina State University, a position he has held for at least three seasons.
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