West Virginia continues to make noise on the 2027 recruiting trail, extending a scholarship offer to rising guard Marlon Martinez - a name that's been steadily climbing up the rankings.
Martinez, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard out of The Academy of Central Florida in Orlando, brings a lot to the table. Originally from the Dominican Republic, he's already turning heads with a four-star rating and a 0.9533 composite score, placing him comfortably inside the top 120 nationally.
That’s no small feat, especially considering he’s jumped more than 20 spots since his initial ranking back in September. The trajectory is clear: this is a player on the rise.
WVU’s offer adds to an already impressive list for Martinez. He’s picked up attention from programs like Mississippi State, South Carolina, Illinois, Hampton, and Fairfield, among others. He even made an official visit to South Carolina in October, signaling that high-major programs are already deep into their evaluations.
What’s helping fuel that buzz? Martinez is set to appear at the Basketball Without Borders All-Star camp this weekend in California - a marquee event that draws scouts and front office personnel from across the country. It’s a proving ground for elite talent, and Martinez will be sharing the floor with some of the top prospects in his class, including five-star center Paul Osaruyi, a major WVU target in his own right.
For West Virginia, the offer to Martinez is part of a broader push in the 2027 cycle. The Mountaineers have been active lately, casting a wide net and targeting high-upside players early. Martinez fits that mold - a long, athletic guard with scoring ability and room to grow.
It’s early in the process, but WVU is clearly looking to establish relationships with top-tier talent before the rest of the country catches up. With Martinez, they’re getting in on a player who’s already trending upward - and if his development continues at this pace, he could be one of the more sought-after guards in the class before it’s all said and done.