Mana Martin, an 18‑year‑old shooting guard from New Zealand, has pledged to join the Siena Saints men’s basketball program for the upcoming season, adding a fresh source of scoring and versatility to the squad.
A standout junior career
Martin spent nine games with the Canterbury Rams in New Zealand's National Basketball League this spring, where he averaged 5.0 points per game while shooting 55.1% from the field and 41.2% from three‑point range. Earlier in the year he posted a career‑high 31 points in the Sky Broadband Rapid League, where he finished the season at 12.5 points per game.
International exposure
He also represented New Zealand at the 2025 NBA Global Academy Games, averaging 17.8 points per game for the New Zealand Select Team. Martin expressed excitement about translating the lessons from that experience to the collegiate level.
Coach Nevada Smith, who has already secured commitments from 11 scholarship players, highlighted the value of Martin’s skill set and his ability to stretch the floor. Smith noted that Martin’s background in both the Rapid League and the Global Academy games equips him with a unique blend of domestic and international experience.
A growing international roster
The Siena roster will also feature Spanish center Andrés Amón, who was recently named to the Spain U20 National Team for the Eurobasket Tournament in Slovenia, and Turkish point guard Tan Yildizoglu. Both players were signed as part of Smith’s strategy to attract talent from abroad, joining a cohort that includes several other overseas recruits.
Martin joins a program that has been actively building a multicultural lineup, reflecting the broader trend of top programs seeking talent beyond traditional recruiting pipelines. His commitment underscores Siena’s ambition to compete at a higher level in the upcoming season.