Ray Glier
Special to Rivals High

Martin just shrugs. He will miss the canopy of big-time high school basketball and the games he coached at Norcross (Ga.) High School against national powerhouses like Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy and Fairfax (Calif.), but Martin always viewed himself as a basketball coach first, not a carnival act.

"I had some All-Americans at Norcross, but I coached 28 years before I had one, so that was not something I had to have," said Martin, who is in his first year at GAC, which is in suburban Atlanta. "I'm a basketball coach. This is what I love to do, coach.

"This job came open and it was a great opportunity."

Martin won three consecutive 5A state titles at Norcross with the likes of Meeks, Aminu, Georgia Tech's Gani Lawal and Tony Neysmith, who signed with Oklahoma but has transferred to Auburn. Martin's record was 170-18 in six seasons at Norcross, which also included a state runner-up finish.

And then he left for GAC, a Christian-based private school in the same county as Norcross.

There was nothing sinister behind the move. He was not forced out; he was not kicked to the curb. Martin did not take the GAC job until last June, which means he was planning to return to Norcross.

"GAC is where I started my coaching career after college. The athletic director, Tim Vick, is one of my best friends. It is a great school, and when you look at this new facility, well, it was a no-brainer," Martin said. "When their coach left to go back home to Alabama, the job came open and I took it. I didn't have to move from my home."

GAC, which plays in Class AA, just opened a sparkling 3,000-seat arena, the Long Forum, which is a multi-use facility, just off I-85 in Gwinnett County. The polished wood floor, the video boards, the chair-back seats and balcony views make it, more than likely, one of the nicest venues for any high school team in the state.

Martin, 53, had 30 years in teaching in the public school system in Georgia, so he was able to "retire" and draw a pension check from the state. Together with his salary from GAC, he can have two incomes.

Even in Martin's first season there are expectations. The Spartans are 23-3, and on the court after practice this week he told his team it could contend for the state championship.

Martin walked into a solid situation at GAC, which has more resources than other AA schools, particularly some of the public schools on the schedule. The tuition is approximately $13,000, but there is scholarship money available. The academics are highly regarded, so Martin can attract the best of the best.

Martin said he is not going to be pressured by those who think he needed players like Meeks and Aminu to win games. After all, before Martin went to Norcross he was 350-180 at Brookwood (Ga.) in 20 years, so he knows his way around the court.

"I'm not out to prove anything," Martin said. "I just want to keep challenging myself, trying to outwork people and teach the game."

Norcross and Martin were long accused of bringing in transfers to win titles, but there are no new players at GAC this season. There is just one senior, 6-foot-3 shooting guard Taylor Metzger, but the Spartans still are competing quite well in Class AA.

Four years ago, the Georgia High School Association ruled one of Martin's Norcross players ? current Florida State player Jordan DeMercy ? ineligible, but DeMercy was transferring from GAC to Norcross and lived in the Norcross school district.

"We were shocked at first when we heard he was coming, a big-name coach like that coming to GAC," Metzger said. "He can turn the program upside down. He brings a lot of intensity every day.

"The first couple of days we were intimidated, but we learned he doesn't have to be around superstars."

Martin, however, preaches to his team about the work ethic of those superstars he coached. Norcross could lock down teams with man-to-man defense and GAC is developing the same defensive mind-set, holding teams to 48 points a game with its help-and-recover tactics.

"The players at Norcross bought into the team concept and the kids here at GAC are doing the same thing," Martin said, "They are buying in. It's all basketball, no matter what level."

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