Cuonzo Martin deserves a call
University of Illinois Head basketball coach Bruce Webber has started his own coaching tree that is beginning to be quite impressive.
Webber, of course, started his career at Purdue under Gene Keady and moved on to Southern Illinois University of the prestigious Missouri Valley Conference. He guided the Salukis to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances while at “Little Egypt” (Carbondale), including a Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2002 with a number of St. Louis kids: Darren Brooks, Stetson Hairston, Kent Williams. Wait, let me stop right their before Billikens fans blame me and Bernie Miklasz for their season again …
I mention Webber only because it was he who took a chance on a young man from East St. Louis Lincoln named Cuonzo Martin in 1990 when he was coming out of Prep School after choosing Purdue over U-Conn. Webber was an assistant at Purdue at the time.
When Webber went to Illinois, he handed the baton to Matt Painter who led them to the tournament, and now Chris Lowery is one of the hottest young coaches in America. In addition, former players Paul Lusk, Kent Williams, Stetson Hairston are coaching at Purdue and Lincoln Trail J.C. respectively.
During barbershop talk in East St. Louis and across the country in the ghetto, you hear a variety of things: LaPhonso Ellis, Darius Miles, Earl ‘Tree” Harris, Herb Nobles, the list go on. But the name I always have to mention when talking hoops politics in East St. Louis is Counzo Martin.
Martin was part of one of the greatest runs in Illinois High School basketball history.
A member of two of three straight Class AA State Championship teams at East St. Louis Lincoln High School (1987-89), he guided the Tigers to a third-place finish on one knee in exciting fashion in Champaign his senior season..
Martin is in his seventh season as an assistant at Purdue and has been the top recruiter while being an assistant under legendary coach Gene Keady, and present head coach Matt Painter, who was a teammate of Martin’s while both played for Webber and Keady at Purdue.
Martin is currently ranked 11th all-time on Purdue’s scoring list with 1,666 points, while averaging 13.7 points in 127 games. In addition he led the Big Ten in 3-point shooting his senior season and fourth in scoring. Coach Gene Keady named Martin captain as a sophomore making him the youngest captain ever in Boilermaker history. Martin teamed with Glenn “Big Dog” Robison as roommates on and off the floor while leading the Boilermakers to their second of three consecutive Big Ten titles.
Martin is looking forward to the day when he may get a call to be interviewed for a head coaching position.
“I would love one day to become a head coach,” said Martin during a visit this past Christmas. “I love coaching at Purdue with my teammate Matt, so if I don’t get a call I’m not complaining one bit.”
Complaining is not what Counzo Martin is all about. You see, Martin not only has beaten up on many opponents during his career at Purdue and while playing professionally overseas and in the NBA, he also has beaten cancer and has been living a healthy life for a number of years now. He never complained one time. He is one of the toughest yet gentle people or coaches you will ever want to meet.
Cuonzo Martin is a proven motivator and recruiter. Hopefully he will get a call one day.