Jack Martinez

Class of 2001
Position: PF
School: Lutheran Christ
City: Philly, PA
Height: 6-8
Interest: 1

3/24/00: "...has enrolled at Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia, PA. Martinez hails from Dominican Republic. He was forced to leave Artesia High School in Lakewood, CA due to immigration paper work not being not being filled out properly. It appears that Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, CA was the destination school indicated on Martinez's form, although he has never enrolled there. "I have spoken to...Jack about the situation back in California, and from what they told me their paper work was not filled out properly when they arrived in California and that hurt there eligibility. Either way we feel confident that we can take care of the proper paper work that needs to get done to let (him) stay in the United States and play next year," said Daryl Schofield, athletic director at Lutheran Christian. Martinez, who turned 18 in October, is also reportedly in his tenth semester of high school making him ineligible to play in most states. Martinez is a terrifically skilled big man, and ranked among the Top 50 players nationally in the Class of 2001 prior to questions concerning their eligibility. Jack, at 6'8 has extremely long arms allowing him to block shots and score in the low post, as well as rebound against taller foes. Fernandez shoots the ball well out to 18 feet and is a great passer and ball handler. He projects as a "Mike Miller type" small forward in college. -excerpted from AllStar Report 3/24

3/14/00: "has been found to have false information on his student visa, according to the Long Beach Press Telegram. Martinez is originally from the Dominican Republic...the newspaper has uncovered (he is) in his fifth year of high school -- as a junior. When informed of the investigation, Martinez told the LBPT, 'My career is over. I'm going to go back to the Dominican with my mom. I'm going to feel bad because (others will say) everything's going to be my fault. It's going to be hard.' " - PacWest Hoops

2/23/00: had a triple double (30 points, 17 rebounds, 10 blocks) in leading Lakewood Artesia over Bloomington, 104-45, in a third-round California Southern Section CIF playoff game.

2/8/00: Martinez mentioned as interested in Cincinnati on the AllStar Report Mssg Board.