Martin dismissed from Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team for violating team rules

Wayne Martin wouldn't have started for the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team this year, but he was expected to provide some depth up front.

That will no longer be the case because Martin has been dismissed from the Redhawks for what coach Dickey Nutt said was a violation of team rules.

Among Martin's transgressions was that he reportedly missed classes on a regular basis and that trend continued even after Southeast coaches warned him that he would face consequences if it didn't stop.

"You hate to lose him. I don't like to lose any players, but school comes first," Nutt said. "He's a great kid. He's got a great mom and dad. They're all disappointed, but the bottom line is you're a student first and then a basketball player."

Martin a 6-foot-7, 205-pound sophomore forward, practiced with the Redhawks all of last season but was ineligible for games after transferring from Central Florida.

"He was a walk-on when he came here. He paid his way for a year and earned himself a scholarship this semester," Nutt said. "I don't know if we were far enough along to say I was counting on him, but you hate to lose a big guy. Big guys are hard to get."