Hargrave Military Academy is proud to announce that Lee Martin has been named the 2019-20 O.B. Teague ’42 Coach of the Year.
Martin, Hargrave’s Head Postgraduate Basketball Coach and Basketball Program Director, led the Tigers in outstanding fashion during his third year as head coach. Hargrave amassed a 37-4 overall record and advanced to the National Prep Championship Final Four. Throughout the season the Tigers picked up wins against national powerhouses Oak Hill Academy and Huntington Prep while notching victories over prominent prep programs in Woodstock Academy, New Hampton, Scotland Campus, Fork Union Military Academy and Massanutten Military Academy to name a few.
The 2019-20 season was a season of firsts for Hargrave as Martin and the Tigers traveled to Nassau, Bahamas to compete in the Carribean Tip-Off Classic. During the event, Hargrave dismantled some of the top prep schools in Europe and Canada going a perfect 3-0 and thus setting the tone for the rest of the season.
The Tigers used that winning momentum into the Fork Union Military Academy Invitational in early December, as Hargrave claimed their first title of the year beating archrival Fork Union on their home floor, 88-78.
Later in December, Martin and the Tigers hosted the 3rd Annual Shooting for Success Classic, an event that was developed by Martin. This game, which is played at 10:00 AM on a weekday, brings in students from local elementary schools, who were all visited by Martin and his players. This event has proven to be an outstanding show of community support and exemplifies how Martin helps his players grow as much off the court as they do on the court. Ultimately, the Tigers defeated Washington Academy, 94-82, as they headed into Christmas break.
On January 19th, 2020, Martin led the Tigers up to Springfield, Massachusetts to compete in the prestigious Spalding Hoophall Classic. Hargrave faced off against Orangeville Prep, who is widely regarded as the top prep school in Canada, in a game that was televised nationally on ESPN. Despite playing their third game in as many days, the Tigers controlled the pace and earned a 91-73 victory while bolstering the program’s national reputation.
Two weeks later, the Tigers opened up the month of February with their annual Military Circuit Showcase. This event, also spearheaded by Martin, grew again this year, by partnering with Phenom Hoop Report to provide an extended level of exposure for not only Hargrave’s program but the individual players as well. Over back to back days, Martin’s Tigers defeated The Skills Factory and Commonwealth Academy in a pair of thrilling games.
Just over a month after being featured on ESPN, Martin guided the Tigers to the 2020 First Piedmont Corp. Invitational Championship by thrashing rival Massanutten Military Academy, 82-62. The Tigers made a strong push in March but ultimately fell in the National Prep Championship Final Four, which was the Tigers’ best finish since the 2016-17 season.
Martin’s Tigers were unblemished in Walter Davis Gymnasium this season going a perfect 18-0 while averaging 101.7 points per game with a margin of victory of over 25 points per game. The 2019-20 Tigers featured two Top 100 players and multiple Division 1 signees to programs such as University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, East Carolina University and High Point University among others, all of which grew immensely under Coach Martin’s tutelage.
