Matt Martinez To Attend Brookdale Community College

South River Standout To Play For JUCO Powerhouse Jersey Blues

SOUTH RIVER, NJ–Recently, GMC Hoops learned that South River senior and 1,000 point scorer, Matt Martinez has decided to attend Brookdale Community College starting in the fall. Martinez, who was one of the top scorers in the state, averaging 28.7 points per game this past season, led South River to the Central Jersey Group I semifinals, where the Rams lost to Shore Regional. Along the way, Martinez sparked South River to an upset of third seeded South Hunterdon in the quarterfinals by scoring 33 points.

After playing at a school in Pennsylvania his first two years, Martinez transferred to his native South River at the start of the 2012-13 academic year. In just two years, Martinez pumped in 1,123 points including 804 this past season. For his career at South River, Martinez played in 54 games, connected on 204 field goals, 183 three pointers, and 172 foul shots. This past year, Martinez set a new Middlesex County record for three pointers with 136 surpassing the previous mark set by former Cardinal McCarrick standout, Vince Rosario.

Martinez also compiled 385 assists, 259 rebounds, 159 steals, and 11 blocks in his two years at South River according to nj.com. This past season, Martinez averaged 7.4 assists per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 3.4 steals per game as well. During his two years with the Rams, South River was a combined 34-21 overall and 17-7 in the GMC Gold. The Rams finished this past season at 17-11 overall including a 9-3 mark in the Gold Division for second place. Martinez had generated interest from Division III schools such as Kean and Stockton as well as an invite to be a walk on at Division II Bloomfield College, but he decided to go to Brookdale to work on his academics.

Martinez will be in good company next fall. Not only is former Spotswood standout Dalonte Grant attending Brookdale, but the Jersey Blues have been one of the top JUCO teams nationally over the past two seasons. With a combined record of 64-3 overall and 40-1 in the Garden State Athletic Conference, Brookdale is the two time defending GSAC champion as well as back to back Region 19 champions. In 2013, Brookdale won the NJCAA Division III national championship, and this past season, the Jersey Blues reached the Final Four before falling to Rock Valley College in the semifinals. Brookdale then defeated Eastfield College for third place.