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KSC's Martin Leads Nation in Free Throw Percentage

KEENE, N.H. 3/22/11 - Like most basketball coaches, Rob Colbert is a creature of habit. One of his many rituals as coach of the Keene State men’s basketball team occurs at the conclusion of practice, when a player must step to the line and knock down a pair of free throws.

Faced with the ominous prospect of running laps for missed attempts, Owl players are very selective when it comes to choosing someone for this important task.

The past two years, Derek D’Amours, now a junior, was the hands-down favorite to take the shots, but that changed this season when Ryan Martin was handed the ball.

“I remember glancing over to the bench as Ryan came out to take the shots,” said Colbert. “I heard Cody Snow say to Derek, ‘Wow, there’s been a changing of the guard.’”

There’s a good reason why Martin was selected by his peers - he never misses. Well, almost never. This past season, the sophomore from Wayne, Maine, connected on 99 of 103 attempts from the charity stripe, leading NCAA Division III with a highly impressive 96.1 free-throw-shooting percentage. “In high school I shot in the low 90s, but never 96 percent,” said Martin.

The last Keene State player to crack the NCAA top-10 was Dave Stantial, who knocked down 72 of 80 (90 percent) attempts from the line as a junior (2000-01), finishing seventh in the country. “I don’t ever remember having a player who could shoot free throws like Ryan Martin,” said Colbert. “I’d like to think it’s my coaching, but in reality he’s in the gym every day practicing.”

Like Colbert, Martin has his own ritual. During the season, he shoots 50 free throws every day after practice. “I took a lot of pride in doing that,” he said. “It helped me get more comfortable at the line.” Martin may have been destined to lead the nation in free throw shooting. As a 12-year-old, he won a national free throw shooting contest that took place at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. “My dad taught me a certain routine and I’ve stuck with that ever since,” said Martin, who dribbles three times and spins the ball before his release. “It’s all about being comfortable.”

Having the ball in Martin’s hand in the closing minutes of a game was a comforting feeling for Coach Colbert. “If we get the ball to Ryan in a foul situation late in a game, it was as good as two points,” said Colbert. “Ryan lives to be in that spot. He’s a cool glass of water. He gets up there, hits the shot, and walks away.”

Ryan says one of his goals at the start of the season was to win the national free throw crown. “At first I thought it would be an unrealistic goal, but once I started making a lot, it became something I wanted to do to challenge myself,” he said.

After missing his first free throw attempt against SUNY-New Paltz on Nov. 23, Martin knocked down 58 consecutive shots before going 2-for-3 at Eastern Conn. on Feb. 8. During the span, he was a perfect 12-for-12 in a LEC game against UMass-Dartmouth.

Basketball players are also superstitious. Much like a pitcher in the midst of tossing a no-hitter, Martin kept to himself about the streak. “We didn’t talk about it,” said Colbert. “The more you get into a player’s head, the worse it becomes.”

Martin might have been credited with an additional missed shot in a game at Plymouth State, but was granted a reprieve due to a lane violation by a Panther player.

Martin was at his best at home. In 15 games at Spaulding Gym, Martin was 54 for 55 (98 percent), missing his only free throw attempt in the Owls’ final game of the season against Brandeis in the ECAC tournament.

Although he has his own routine at the line, Martin says he tries to emulate Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics. “He has the best pure form of anyone I’ve seen,” said Martin. “I learn a lot from watching him.”

Still making frequent trips to the court during the off-season, Martin plans to work several camps up in Maine this summer as well as do some individual workouts at his middle and high school. Always working on his game, Martin says he’d like to improve in several areas, including his free throw shooting. After all, he did miss four shots from the line this past season.

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