By Walter Dubowec

Darrick Martin flat out 'gets it'.

He knows that an NBA career can be short and he has prepared himself for the future. Martin has made it his off court mission to help others, whether its as a mentor to young Raptor players or to kids in Southern California or Toronto.

This week, Toronto Raptor Darrick Martin reportedly will sign a temporary contract with CSKA Moscow to allow the team to conduct normal practices while their four point guards Nikos Zissis, J.R. Holden, Anton Ponkrashov and Theo Papaloukas play at the European championships. This should enable D-Mart to get some floor time in advance of another NBA season.

                                     

Last week, Martin was sitting in the bleachers on the campus of St. Anthony High School near downtown Long Beach, California. St. Anthony High School is Darrick’s alma mater and he conducted a free youth basketball camp.

During his senior year of high school, D-Mart was named to both Parade Magazine's and McDonald's all-American high school teams and his on court accomplishments are well known back home.

Darrick was occasionally criticized by some Raptor fans who felt he was taking up a roster spot that could have been used by another more capable player. What they failed to understand is that Martin was a very serviceable back-up when called upon and his role as a mentor and coach to T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon was more important than anything he did on the court.

D-Mart has his head screwed on right and he credits St. Anthony with a good part of that. “All the teachers were about you becoming a better person and getting a good education," he said. "When I got a scholarship to UCLA, my mom was more proud about me getting my degree than all my years playing basketball."

As a youngster, Darrick wanted to attend a basketball camp, but his family couldn’t afford the cost. Young D-Mart was heartbroken when he couldn't go to Magic Johnson's camp because it the cost was $325.

So he told himself if he ever played pro ball he'd put on his own ‘free’ hoops camp. This summer, the 36 year old, Raptor point guard has put on eight camps. The St. Anthony High School camp was free for 120 boys and girls, ages 7 to 17.


Kids Hoops Camp With a Difference

The "Darrick Martin Basketball and Book Camp" is not only about basketball but deals with everyday life skills, too. Classes in nutrition and hygiene, goal-setting, study skills and leadership development were held along with drills in dribbling, passing and shooting.

"The biggest thing I want the kids to understand is that basketball in some sense, like the slogan says, is life," Martin noted. "But truly it's not. There's other aspects that truly make up your life; basketball just happens to be a small percentage of it. Schooling is much more important.”

"I definitely want to teach them my knowledge about basketball and the things that have helped me be successful. Because there are kids out there who are dreaming to play in the NBA. But then I also want to give them the same amount of insight into what it took for me to get through high school and college - to let them know that I had to put just as much time into studying as basketball. So there's a balance."

D-Mart knows how inner-city kids can get caught up with the idea of one day playing in the NBA, while their school work slides. He admits it can be difficult to change that mindset. Growing up in Compton, he was faced with peer pressures and negative influences, including gangs and drugs.

He's got a ready-made answer when somebody remarks, "But you made it, man."

"Yeah, and I give them the breakdown: there's only 425 jobs in the NBA," he said. "I have 120 kids here; another camp might have 200. That's 320 alone. And they say, 'There's only 425 jobs? Are you sure?' I say, yeah, and you can see them starting to think: Ah, well, I guess I'd better be able to do something else.'"

This reality-check message was reinforced at the camp all week long by Martin and some friends, including Golden State’s Baron Davis, along with ex-Raptor Jalen Rose and Sixer guard Andre Miller.

“We all say, 'I'm not telling you never to dream. Always dream. Always pursue your dreams. But have a plan B, C or even D,'" he said. "So I think they're getting it. The light bulb is going on for them."

Speculating on D-Marts's Future

Will Darrick Martin be back with the Raptors in 2007-2008? Odds are probably not.

So, what is D-Mart’s Plan A? My guess is to play with the Raptors. His Plan B? Probably to sign with another NBA team. His Plan C? Sign with a European team. Plan D? Hang ‘em up and enter the coaching ranks.

We’ll soon know whether its Plan A, B, C or D. Regardless of where he lands, Darrick Martin will be a valuable addition to which ever organization he joins.

And if he's not back with Toronto, his contribution to the Raptors was far more than just his on court points and assists along with the miracle 'three' against Dallas that preserved the team's 3 point streak. 

Darrick Martin provided leadership which is needed by a young team poised for greatness.

Sources: The Tidings – Southern California’s Catholic Weekly & Draft Express