Sports

Staten Island’s Finest: Curtis’ Martin reps forgotten borough

Hassan Martin began his summer as an unknown. It ended with the Curtis standout asserting himself as arguably the city’s top forward, a shot-blocking, finishing and rebounding dynamo who was unquestionably the best player on the floor in Sunday’s Battle of the Boroughs final.

The annual showcase of the city’s top boys basketball players excludes Staten Island, the lost borough when it comes to high school basketball. Martin was allowed to compete as an exception — Harlem coach Dwayne Mitchell joked there was a special doorway that connects Staten Island to Harlem — after New Heights teammate Tyler Wilson convinced him to attend tryouts.

“I wanted to rep Staten Island,” said Martin, who at 16 is a young rising senior.

Even before this weekend, when the lanky 6-foot-7 Martin scored 42 points in two games, he proved he’s a quality Division I prospect with New Heights on the AAU circuit.

Facing some of the country’s top recruits, Martin helped New Heights win the Memorial Day Super 16 Showcase and reach the championship game at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis and the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas.

He blew up, racking up double digit scholarship offers. Providence, Iowa State, Rhode Island and St. Joseph’s are at the top of his list, quality programs that envision Martin blossoming into a difference maker up front, as a versatile forward capable of playing inside and out.

“I worked hard for it and it paid off,” he said after scoring a game-high 26 points in Harlem’s hard-fought 87-84 loss to Brooklyn in the final on Sunday.

“If he develops a shot, he can be scary good,” one Division I coach recruiting Martin previously said. “His ability to handle the ball and his versatility makes him intriguing. His length as a rebounder will make him pretty special. He’s a high major kid.”

Martin said he will likely pick a school in November, after visiting the four said schools, based on the opportunity to play and how he fits in. He’s developed a close bond with coaches from all four, particularly Rhode Island assistant Jimmy Carr and Providence’s Brian Blaney.

Despite all he accomplished with New Heights, Martin was a mystery to many in these parts before the Battle of the Boroughs. Martin played junior varsity as a sophomore, leading Curtis to the city title, and missed most of his junior year with a torn finger tendon. Everyone, on both teams, was impressed by him this weekend. Jefferson star Jaquan (Son Son) Lynch, rarely effusive in praise of opponents, said Martin would “kill” in Brooklyn AA. Harlem and New Heights teammate Tyler Wilson guaranteed a state title if Martin was at Cardinal Hayes with him and Shavar Newkirk.

“He was tough — he singlehandedly out-rebounded us,” Brooklyn coach Andre Ambrose said. “His aggressiveness near the basket, his motor, he came to play from the beginning. That impressed me.”

Martin displayed his entire repertoire on Sunday. He showed off post moves, such as a nifty jump hook in the lane, explosiveness on finishing around the hoop, blocking shots and grabbing every rebound near him with his long arms.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Wilson said. “A lot of people can’t do what he does. When the ball goes up, you better know where he is or you’re going to get a dunk on your head.”

Martin is happy where he is, as the face of the consistently successful Curtis program. He was proud of his performance in Manhattan these last two days because of what it meant for Staten Island. When he first joined New Heights in the spring, Martin was besieged with insults, “like we don’t count,” he recalled.

“We’re definitely under the radar,” Martin said. “I’m trying to put us on the map.”

Nobody was poking fun at Staten Island on Sunday — certainly not Brooklyn’s forwards. They were just glad they won’t have to see Martin anymore.

zbraziller@nypost.com