Martin signs with College of the Ozarks
MARTIN COUCH Sports editor

COLLEGE OF THE OZARK SIGNEE MARTIN COUCH PHOTO Benton Panthers senior center Ben Martin signed an official letter of intent to play basketball at the College of the Ozarks next year.

Benton Panther senior center Ben Martin will be playing basketball next season for the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville.

Martin, who was one of the senior leaders for the Panthers on their quest for the 2007-08 6A-State runner's up, decided on Ozarks as opposed to Hendrix College in Conway.

"Ben had a choice of Hendrix and Ozarks and I believe and he believes that Ozarks is the best place for him and we're excited about him going there," said Panthers head coach Chris Nail. "He was our defensive player of theyear at our team banquet. He does an outstanding job and his biggest asset is his footwork. He's mobile and can move well. I think he's going to be a really good college player."

Martin hit the game-winning shot against the Bryant Hornets this season to win the Saline County Shootout.

"It's a realatively not that known college," Martin said. "It's up in the mountains. It's a small, private college and I'll be one of the big men on campus next year. It's going to be great. I'm looking forward to it."

Martin is being recruited as a forward.

"Through my sophomore year, I've never quit and always worked hard," Martin said. "That first game against Bryant, I really loved it. I fi- nally got paid back for all of that hard work, then we did something that nobody else has done at this school."

Martin has always put academics first and it's paid off for him, too.

"Academics have always been first in my family," Martin said. "It was hard to keep playing basketball with my academics on the main burner. I was happy that we were one step away from winning the state championship. For that to happen is phenominal."