Tulsa Men’s Hoops Sign Two to 2025-26 Class
11/19/2024 12:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa men's basketball team signed two players to financial aid agreements, Golden Hurricane head coach Eric Konkol announced. KJ Martin and Jaylen Lawal are the first two additions to TU's 2025-26 roster.
"We are very happy that KJ Martin and Jaylen Lawal are joining our Tulsa basketball family," Konkol said. "Both have the qualities we look for on and off the floor. We're excited about their versatility on both ends of the court, their commitment to growth and their overall fit with our program and university."
KJ, Kentrell Lorenzo Martin, Jr., is a 6'8" wing who comes to Tulsa out of Tampa, Fla. and The Rock School, where he has lettered every season in basketball. He helped lead his team to a runner-up finish at the state championship in his junior year, finishing with a 26-6 record.
He has averaged 14.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in his prep career. So far in his senior season, Martin is averaging a 20.5 point, 10.5 assist double-double to go with five assists and a pair of steals each game. He was a second team all-county selection in his junior and sophomore years and was named first team all-state last season.
The son of children's books author Kentrell Martin and entrepreneur Allison Martin, KJ has a younger brother named Kasey. He plans to pursue a degree in sports management at TU.
"KJ is a versatile player who can score both inside and out and guard multiple positions," Konkol said. "He has tremendous size and length as a big wing and we see him being a player that can play all over the floor. We are excited about his potential and look forward to working with him."
A 6'3" combo guard, Lawal comes to Tulsa from Plano, Texas, where he attends Ischool of Lewisville. Lawal has lettered in all four seasons and started in each year as well. He's a career 1,500-point scorer with more than 400 rebounds and 350 assists. Lawal is averaging 17 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a senior.
He has averaged double figure scoring in each season of high school, putting up 19.2 points as a junior, 18.9 in his sophomore year and 12.4 as a freshman. The high school point guard was named first team all-district as a sophomore and named the district's top freshman in his first season of prep ball.
He is the son of Abdullah and Candace Lawal, an IT recruiter and hospital accountant. He has a younger sibling, Kyleah. He is also not the first in his family to play collegiate ball. His father, Abdullah, played basketball at Wyoming and Southwestern Oklahoma State. Lawal plans to pursue a degree in business at the University of Tulsa.
"Jalen is a mature guard who can create for himself and others," Konkol said. "He came to our Elite camp two years ago and we have followed him throughout his high school career. He shoots with range and can also attack the paint. He has a physical presence about him that is a great fit in our system."
Tulsa Basketball Signees 2025-26
"We are very happy that KJ Martin and Jaylen Lawal are joining our Tulsa basketball family," Konkol said. "Both have the qualities we look for on and off the floor. We're excited about their versatility on both ends of the court, their commitment to growth and their overall fit with our program and university."
KJ, Kentrell Lorenzo Martin, Jr., is a 6'8" wing who comes to Tulsa out of Tampa, Fla. and The Rock School, where he has lettered every season in basketball. He helped lead his team to a runner-up finish at the state championship in his junior year, finishing with a 26-6 record.
He has averaged 14.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in his prep career. So far in his senior season, Martin is averaging a 20.5 point, 10.5 assist double-double to go with five assists and a pair of steals each game. He was a second team all-county selection in his junior and sophomore years and was named first team all-state last season.
The son of children's books author Kentrell Martin and entrepreneur Allison Martin, KJ has a younger brother named Kasey. He plans to pursue a degree in sports management at TU.
"KJ is a versatile player who can score both inside and out and guard multiple positions," Konkol said. "He has tremendous size and length as a big wing and we see him being a player that can play all over the floor. We are excited about his potential and look forward to working with him."
A 6'3" combo guard, Lawal comes to Tulsa from Plano, Texas, where he attends Ischool of Lewisville. Lawal has lettered in all four seasons and started in each year as well. He's a career 1,500-point scorer with more than 400 rebounds and 350 assists. Lawal is averaging 17 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a senior.
He has averaged double figure scoring in each season of high school, putting up 19.2 points as a junior, 18.9 in his sophomore year and 12.4 as a freshman. The high school point guard was named first team all-district as a sophomore and named the district's top freshman in his first season of prep ball.
He is the son of Abdullah and Candace Lawal, an IT recruiter and hospital accountant. He has a younger sibling, Kyleah. He is also not the first in his family to play collegiate ball. His father, Abdullah, played basketball at Wyoming and Southwestern Oklahoma State. Lawal plans to pursue a degree in business at the University of Tulsa.
"Jalen is a mature guard who can create for himself and others," Konkol said. "He came to our Elite camp two years ago and we have followed him throughout his high school career. He shoots with range and can also attack the paint. He has a physical presence about him that is a great fit in our system."
Tulsa Basketball Signees 2025-26
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Class | Hometown/Previous School |
| Jaylen Lawal | G | 6-3 | 195 | Fr-HS | Plano, Texas/Ischool of Lewisville |
| KJ Martin | F | 6-8 | 225 | Fr-HS | Tampa, Fla./The Rock School |
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