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LSU's Jarell Martin leaving for draft

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU sophomore forward Jarell Martin says he'll be leaving the Tigers to enter this summer's NBA draft.

The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds this season and received AP All-SEC first-team honors.

Martin, who joined the program in coach Johnny Jones' second season, says he was happy to play a role in LSU's progress.

He says he fulfilled one of his top goals this season by helping the Tigers return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years.

LSU was knocked out in the first round by NC State last week.

Martin shot 51 percent this season and hit a team-high 140 free throws. He also registered 15 double-doubles.

Jones says Martin has been a hard worker and very coachable.