TAMPA - University of South Florida men's basketball coach Stan Heath has completed his 2011-12 recruiting class with the signing of Martino Brock, a transfer from the University of South Alabama (USA).
The 6-foot 5-inch, 190-pound combo guard from Memphis, Tenn., will sit out the 2011-12 season, then will have two years to compete for the Bulls. He is an explosive run-jump athlete that has the ability to drive by his man with a quick first step, and is capable of throwing down dunks in transition. He is a slasher who can finish at the rim or stop on a dime to hit a mid-range jump shot. Defensively, Brock can lock down his man due to his length and quickness.
"I was hesitant with Martino's jump from the Sun Belt Conference into the BIG EAST Conference, but after doing my homework and watching film on him, I feel he will make a strong impact on our team through his character, high intensity and energy level," said Heath. "I'm extremely happy to bring him on the team because I think he will be a very good fit for the Bulls."
Brock averaged 12.8 points per game in his two seasons at South Alabama, adding 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals in his 59 career games at USA.
In his sophomore season with the Jaguars, Brock averaged 4.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.6 minutes per game. Brock was seventh in scoring and fourth in steals in the Sun Belt Conference. He scored in double digits in all but six games his sophomore campaign and topped 20 points in four outings. Against BIG EAST Conference team Louisville, Brock set then-career highs, scoring 24 points, hitting a pair of threes and making eight free throws. In that game, he also scored 14 of the Jaguars' 30 points in the first half.
As a freshman at USA, Brock played in all 32 games, starting 30. He was second on the team in scoring (11.7), rebounding (6.3) and field goal percentage (45.2). Brock ranked 24th in the Sun Belt in scoring, 10th in rebounding and seventh in steals. He was named Sun Belt Player of the Week on Feb. 15 after averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in wins over Florida International and Louisiana at Lafayette, recording back-to-back double-doubles against the Panthers (18p, 12r) and Ragin' Cajuns (19p, 13r). In his rookie campaign, Brock notched five double-doubles, the most on the team, with four coming against SBC competition, reached double-digits in points 19 times (second on the team) and led the team in steals 17 times and assists 11 times.
Brock attended Maine Central Institute in 2008-09, where he averaged a team-best 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in his only season with the Huskies. He also played for Nashville Christian Advancement Academy (2007-08), and averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior (2006-07) at Memphis Ridgeway High School in Tennessee.
Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of Nashville Christian, Brock originally signed with Southeast Missouri State for the 2008-09 season, but landed at Maine Central Institute prep school for the year. He then signed with South Alabama for the 2009-10 campaign.
Brock joins four players in the 2011-12 class, including guards Blake Nash and Anthony Collins and forwards Andre Jackson and Jordan Omogbehin.
