Muskegon High School basketball star James Martin, a senior 6-foot-4 University of Detroit Mercy signee, has overcome injuries to bring his high-flying skills back to the team.
(Photo courtesy of Scott DeCamp/LocalSportJournal.com)
By Scott DeCamp
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – James Martin’s explosiveness and high-flying ability are readily apparent anytime you watch him suit up for the Muskegon High School basketball team.
Take, for instance, the posterizing dunk Martin had as a sophomore when he cocked back and threw down a one-hander over an opponent during the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Basketball Classic two years ago at Reeths-Puffer High School.
“We expect a highlight every single game,” Muskegon senior teammate Jemarion Brown said.
What really defines Martin, now a senior 6-foot-4 University of Detroit Mercy signee, are his competitiveness and will to win. They’re off the charts.
“I haven’t seen a competitor like him since DeShaun (Thrower),” said veteran Muskegon basketball coach Keith Guy, referring to the 2014 Michigan Mr. Basketball winner, who led the Big Reds during their 28-0, Class A state-title run that season. “(Martin) wants to win at everything: Sprints, weight lifting. … He’s just ultra competitive.”
To put Guy’s comments in context, consider a major moment of adversity for Martin and the Big Reds last season.
During a game at Mona Shores last January, Martin suffered a gruesome, compound fracture in his left forearm. In an attempt to block a shot, he elevated and his legs got taken out, so he attempted to break the fall with his left arm.
“First of all, it was devastating. It was a night that you’ll always remember as a coach, just seeing him wanting to play,” Guy recalled. “As tough as he is, he tried to get up and put (the fractured forearm) back into place and he wanted to play.
“When he steps between those lines, he’s a different dude. He’s trying to bite your head off at that point,” Guy said. “He’s a very nice guy. Funny. He has some personality to him. But he’s pretty much low key.”
Guy noted that Martin is a perfectionist, who also is very loyal. He said that Martin has improved each year and he’s learned from leaders such as Jordan Briggs, Anthony Sydnor, David Day, and M’khi Guy, absorbing those lessons and taking on the leadership role himself.
Martin is not very demonstrative. While he does wow the crowd often, he’s not seeking attention.
Martin does want to be on the court, especially after missing the final 12 games of the 2024-25 season with the injury. He wants to win. He expects to win. This season, he expects to win big.
With a deep and talented roster this season, led by Martin, the Big Reds have designs to make history.
“The goals are to get every trophy, an undefeated record, stuff like that,” Martin said. “(To be) one of the best teams to ever come through here.
“We definitely were the best team last year. We’re the best team this year. We beat the state champs last year (East Lansing). We were the only team to beat them. We had a bunch of injuries last year. Not to make any excuses, but injuries definitely took the best of us last year, but we’re coming back to get it this year for sure.”
In two games this season, Martin scored 19 points in a victory over Marquette and 27 in a win over Grand Ledge.
Last season, Martin averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. That was quite a jump from his sophomore year, when he produced nine points, five rebounds, and two assists. As a freshman, he averaged five points and two boards per game.
It was difficult for Martin to sit and watch for more than half of last season, and it took a little time for the Big Reds to regain their stride after his injury. Even without Martin, Muskegon was in position to perhaps go deep into the Division 1 state tournament but the Big Reds lost to Rockford on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the district final, 64-62.
“That was my first injury, and it wasn’t a regular one,” said Martin, who is the son of Darlisa (Parker) Kimbrough and James Martin. Jonte Kimbrough is his stepfather. “It was pretty hard, but it made me better from a watching standpoint. I was a coach and I feel like I learned a lot. … It helped me and my teammates get closer on the coaching side and helped me learn more from watching because I never watched the game – I always played.”
Coach Guy spent the night in the hospital with Martin the evening of the injury. The next morning, Martin underwent surgery. Later that day, Muskegon fell to a strong Warren Lincoln squad, but then the Big Reds reeled off 10 straight victories leading up to the Rockford game.
At the hospital, Guy told Martin that he was still an integral part of the team, only he was switching roles from player to coach of sorts.
“We kind of used him in a coaching role and I think that it’s helped his leadership tremendously as well,” Guy said. “He understands that any moment on the floor, you can’t take it for granted. It could be any play, any possession, any day, any minute, any second, it could be your last time playing. I think he really understands that now.
“You can tell the way he’s attacking things now. He’s on a mission.”
Teammates are thrilled to have Martin back on the court as they embark on what could be a special season. While Martin’s perspective of the game grew as he watched from the bench like a coach, encouraging and challenging his peers, he’s more than ready to bring those qualities to the floor in addition to his high-level athleticism and talent.
“He’s a good leader,” Brown said. “He pushes people and he will call you out on your mistakes.”
Added Muskegon senior Arquez Petty: “It feels great actually to have him back on the court. Last year, when he got injured, you couldn’t really tell that he was off the court because he was a leader on the bench. He was still there. But it feels great to have him back on the court.”
Martin is a thinker. He is a 3.0 student, who admittedly takes his studies more seriously than he did before. Off the court, he enjoys playing chess and checkers, according to Petty.
Martin also really likes to watch NBA stars Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant, who are superior athletes.
As the stories go, Martin was a dominant football player in his younger years. He also played soccer growing up.
Per Guy, the larger the moment, the more likely it is that Martin will deliver. Martin has another level that most cannot reach. Sometimes, Guy can’t help but marvel at Martin’s athletic feats and he certainly does not take it for granted.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ve probably pulled my hamstring watching him,” Guy quipped. “I can’t believe how high he jumps and the plays he makes and sometimes the rebounds he gets – he just gets them where no one else can get them. I mean, his will to win, man, it’s just unmatched.”
Martin surprises himself even with some of the things he’s able to do, especially from a leaping standpoint.
Martin is not sure what his vertical leap is, but he said he’s been dunking since middle school. He does not take his physical gifts for granted.
“It’s just a blessing,” he said. “When I get up there sometimes, it’s crazy because sometimes I don’t believe it myself. I’m just exploding.”
On the offensive end of the floor, Martin’s No. 1 goal is to “get downhill” and not settle. He loves playing defense and believes that it helps set up his offense.
Guy coached back-to-back Mr. Basketball winners at Muskegon in Thrower and Deyonta Davis (2015). He believes that Martin is cut from the same cloth.
“I definitely think he needs to be one of the Mr. Basketball candidates,” Guy said. “I think he will be. He’s done enough. He’s one of the best players in the state of Michigan. Detroit Mercy is getting a special, special player. I think a lot of people forgot about James because of his injury .. he’s even better now. I think he’s out to prove that. And it’s not about stats for him – it’s about winning.
“I was fortunate enough to coach two Mr. Basketball winners. I know what they look like, and James fits the bill,” Guy added. “He’s right there with those guys. I don’t say that often about players, but (Martin) is definitely deserving of being in that conversation and having a shot to win it.”
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – James Martin’s explosiveness and high-flying ability are readily apparent anytime you watch him suit up for the Muskegon High School basketball team.
Take, for instance, the posterizing dunk Martin had as a sophomore when he cocked back and threw down a one-hander over an opponent during the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Basketball Classic two years ago at Reeths-Puffer High School.
“We expect a highlight every single game,” Muskegon senior teammate Jemarion Brown said.
What really defines Martin, now a senior 6-foot-4 University of Detroit Mercy signee, are his competitiveness and will to win. They’re off the charts.
“I haven’t seen a competitor like him since DeShaun (Thrower),” said veteran Muskegon basketball coach Keith Guy, referring to the 2014 Michigan Mr. Basketball winner, who led the Big Reds during their 28-0, Class A state-title run that season. “(Martin) wants to win at everything: Sprints, weight lifting. … He’s just ultra competitive.”
To put Guy’s comments in context, consider a major moment of adversity for Martin and the Big Reds last season.
During a game at Mona Shores last January, Martin suffered a gruesome, compound fracture in his left forearm. In an attempt to block a shot, he elevated and his legs got taken out, so he attempted to break the fall with his left arm.
“First of all, it was devastating. It was a night that you’ll always remember as a coach, just seeing him wanting to play,” Guy recalled. “As tough as he is, he tried to get up and put (the fractured forearm) back into place and he wanted to play.
“When he steps between those lines, he’s a different dude. He’s trying to bite your head off at that point,” Guy said. “He’s a very nice guy. Funny. He has some personality to him. But he’s pretty much low key.”
Guy noted that Martin is a perfectionist, who also is very loyal. He said that Martin has improved each year and he’s learned from leaders such as Jordan Briggs, Anthony Sydnor, David Day, and M’khi Guy, absorbing those lessons and taking on the leadership role himself.
Martin is not very demonstrative. While he does wow the crowd often, he’s not seeking attention.
Martin does want to be on the court, especially after missing the final 12 games of the 2024-25 season with the injury. He wants to win. He expects to win. This season, he expects to win big.
With a deep and talented roster this season, led by Martin, the Big Reds have designs to make history.
“The goals are to get every trophy, an undefeated record, stuff like that,” Martin said. “(To be) one of the best teams to ever come through here.
“We definitely were the best team last year. We’re the best team this year. We beat the state champs last year (East Lansing). We were the only team to beat them. We had a bunch of injuries last year. Not to make any excuses, but injuries definitely took the best of us last year, but we’re coming back to get it this year for sure.”
In two games this season, Martin scored 19 points in a victory over Marquette and 27 in a win over Grand Ledge.
Last season, Martin averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. That was quite a jump from his sophomore year, when he produced nine points, five rebounds, and two assists. As a freshman, he averaged five points and two boards per game.
It was difficult for Martin to sit and watch for more than half of last season, and it took a little time for the Big Reds to regain their stride after his injury. Even without Martin, Muskegon was in position to perhaps go deep into the Division 1 state tournament but the Big Reds lost to Rockford on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the district final, 64-62.
“That was my first injury, and it wasn’t a regular one,” said Martin, who is the son of Darlisa (Parker) Kimbrough and James Martin. Jonte Kimbrough is his stepfather. “It was pretty hard, but it made me better from a watching standpoint. I was a coach and I feel like I learned a lot. … It helped me and my teammates get closer on the coaching side and helped me learn more from watching because I never watched the game – I always played.”
Coach Guy spent the night in the hospital with Martin the evening of the injury. The next morning, Martin underwent surgery. Later that day, Muskegon fell to a strong Warren Lincoln squad, but then the Big Reds reeled off 10 straight victories leading up to the Rockford game.
At the hospital, Guy told Martin that he was still an integral part of the team, only he was switching roles from player to coach of sorts.
“We kind of used him in a coaching role and I think that it’s helped his leadership tremendously as well,” Guy said. “He understands that any moment on the floor, you can’t take it for granted. It could be any play, any possession, any day, any minute, any second, it could be your last time playing. I think he really understands that now.
“You can tell the way he’s attacking things now. He’s on a mission.”
Teammates are thrilled to have Martin back on the court as they embark on what could be a special season. While Martin’s perspective of the game grew as he watched from the bench like a coach, encouraging and challenging his peers, he’s more than ready to bring those qualities to the floor in addition to his high-level athleticism and talent.
“He’s a good leader,” Brown said. “He pushes people and he will call you out on your mistakes.”
Added Muskegon senior Arquez Petty: “It feels great actually to have him back on the court. Last year, when he got injured, you couldn’t really tell that he was off the court because he was a leader on the bench. He was still there. But it feels great to have him back on the court.”
Martin is a thinker. He is a 3.0 student, who admittedly takes his studies more seriously than he did before. Off the court, he enjoys playing chess and checkers, according to Petty.
Martin also really likes to watch NBA stars Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant, who are superior athletes.
As the stories go, Martin was a dominant football player in his younger years. He also played soccer growing up.
Per Guy, the larger the moment, the more likely it is that Martin will deliver. Martin has another level that most cannot reach. Sometimes, Guy can’t help but marvel at Martin’s athletic feats and he certainly does not take it for granted.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ve probably pulled my hamstring watching him,” Guy quipped. “I can’t believe how high he jumps and the plays he makes and sometimes the rebounds he gets – he just gets them where no one else can get them. I mean, his will to win, man, it’s just unmatched.”
Martin surprises himself even with some of the things he’s able to do, especially from a leaping standpoint.
Martin is not sure what his vertical leap is, but he said he’s been dunking since middle school. He does not take his physical gifts for granted.
“It’s just a blessing,” he said. “When I get up there sometimes, it’s crazy because sometimes I don’t believe it myself. I’m just exploding.”
On the offensive end of the floor, Martin’s No. 1 goal is to “get downhill” and not settle. He loves playing defense and believes that it helps set up his offense.
Guy coached back-to-back Mr. Basketball winners at Muskegon in Thrower and Deyonta Davis (2015). He believes that Martin is cut from the same cloth.
“I definitely think he needs to be one of the Mr. Basketball candidates,” Guy said. “I think he will be. He’s done enough. He’s one of the best players in the state of Michigan. Detroit Mercy is getting a special, special player. I think a lot of people forgot about James because of his injury .. he’s even better now. I think he’s out to prove that. And it’s not about stats for him – it’s about winning.
“I was fortunate enough to coach two Mr. Basketball winners. I know what they look like, and James fits the bill,” Guy added. “He’s right there with those guys. I don’t say that often about players, but (Martin) is definitely deserving of being in that conversation and having a shot to win it.”
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