CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri signed power forward Wayne Martin, Jr., Tuesday. Martin spent the 2011-12 season at the University of Central Florida.

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Martin played in 11 games and averaged 3.4 minutes per contest as a true freshman with the Knights a year ago. He entered his first season of NCAA Division I basketball while recovering from a torn Achilles in his right foot. 

“We are extremely excited about being able to land a talented player such as Wayne,” said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. “We watched him grow and emerge as one of the top players in the country. He was highly recruited out of high school and we are pleased to have him join our program.”

Martin, who stands at 6'7”, 205, has ties to Nutt which date back to when he played middle school basketball in Jonesboro, Ark.

“I chose Southeast Missouri over the likes of Creighton and San Diego State,” commented Martin. “Coach Nutt has been recruiting me for a long time and my parents have a good relationship with him. I feel comfortable with this situation and am really excited to get there and help the team.”

Martin has three years of eligibility and will sit out the 2012-13 campaign due to NCAA Division I transfer regulations.

Prior to Central Florida, Martin was named the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches 2010-11 Class 2A Player of the Year. He averaged 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior at Providence Christian High School.

Martin, a First-Team Class 2A All-State and All-First Coast First-Team selection, was rated as the No. 44 power forward nationally by ESPNU. As a junior, he averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, helping Providence Christian to a 31-1 record and Florida Class 2A state championship.

Martin is the son of Wayne Martin, Sr., who was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round (19^th pick overall) of the 1989 National Football League Draft. Martin made the Pro Bowl in 1994 and was a First-Team All-American at the University of Arkansas.