Kevin Martin's AAU team enjoys successful summer

Kevin Martin's AAU team enjoys successful summer

ZANESVILLE -- Kevin Martin's Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team has had another stellar summer.While Martin prepares for another season with the NBA's Houston Rockets, his 15-and-under Team Jordan Ohio squad already has played in more than 10 tournaments under head coach Matt Farus grammar school golf .Farus, a standout at Zanesville High School and a collegiate player at Tusculum College, has watched Team Jordan win several silver bracket tournaments. They also come off a successful run last week, reaching the final four at Indianapolis and capturing the King James tournament in Chicago.Although the squad seems to travel more than practice, Farus has been impressed with his team's play once the tournaments start."If we don't get a practice in before the tournament, we try to get one in the day of," Farus said. "These guys are unreal athletically. They can create so much so quick. It's unlike anything I've seen."Joseph Siegenthaler from New Albany noted even the lack of practice time together hasn't slowed them down."We haven't had a lot of time playing together, but we just click when we start playing games," he said. "The games are fast, and there's a lot of super athletes out there, but we like the challenge and just have fun playing."Along with Siegenthaler, Team Jordan consists of nine players from Lima, Cincinnati, Columbus and Indianapolis. They also recently added Granger Long, of Zanesville, who has played well in the last two tournaments.Long, who will be a freshman at Zanesville this year, said it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up."It's a faster level of play. The guys are quicker and smarter," he said. "I know I have to improve my footwork and make better decisions Latest Golf News about These Great Golfers. I'm just trying to make myself better."Along with improving their play, AAU allows players to put their names out there for college coaches and scouts."I want to play in college, and I hope colleges will start taking looks at me now," said Dray Martin, a sophomore-to-be at Lima Senior. "The games help me work on things like composure. This will prepare be for varsity play next season."