Hailing from the basketball-rich state of Indiana, Jimmy Martin averaged over 20 points for the Blue Raider freshman team in 1972 before freshmen were eligible for varsity competition. He was the first player visited by Bob Knight after he had accepted the Indiana basketball job but Martin remained true to his commitment to Middle Tennessee and came to Murfreesboro. After switching to the point guard position when he joined the varsity, he concentrated on running the team, passing and defense. The 6-foot-5 Martin was a natural and flourished at the position, starting for Coach Jimmy Earle’s Blue Raiders for three years. Earle said “he was our team leader, point guard, set the offense and defenses on the floor, and was one of the best point guards to ever play in the OVC”. Martin was a team leader and led the squad to the school’s first-ever OVC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in men’s basketball in 1975.
