Michael Yero is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Basha High School for AZPreps365.com

Cole Martin’s junior season was going picture-perfect.

Undefeated heading into postseason play, Basha was a heavy favorite to make a run in the AIA Open Division Playoffs. They outscored teams 452-126 in 10 games, scoring over 40 points in eight contests while holding teams to under 20 points as many times.

Martin’s presence in the secondary solidified him as one of the best cornerbacks in the 2023 class.

He received new offers from Power 5 programs and continued to burst onto the Arizona prep football scene.

This came as no surprise for Martin, who transferred from Hamilton High School to play for coach Chris McDonald and the Bears in 2021. He saw an opportunity to strive while chasing a state title.  

That was until the unexpected occurred.

In front of a sellout home crowd, the Bears were shut out in the second half of 38-20 defeat against Liberty in the opening round of the playoffs.

The loss left Martin and his team in shock.

They didn’t envision their season ending that day.

“It was a letdown losing in that first game,” Martin said. 

Many would’ve lost hope and just moved on from it, but that isn’t an option for the four-star senior cornerback.

For Martin, there’s unfinished business left to resolve.

“Since that day, we’ve been working to get back to that moment, that spotlight,” he said. “It’s going to be great to see what it comes out to this year.”

Basha’s road to redemption began in the season opener against Los Alamitos (CA.).

The Griffins already played twice prior to their matchup against Basha, including an ESPN televised contest.

Martin was faced with the biggest headache of the night, covering USC commit Makai Lemon with USC pledge Malachi Nelson, the highest-rated quarterback in the 2023 class according to ESPN. throwing the four-star receiver the ball.

Things weren’t ideal from the jump for Basha.

Falling behind 21-0 early and down two possessions heading into halftime, Martin and the Bears knew it was time to control the pace.

That’s exactly what they did.

Basha outscored Los Alamitos, 33-7, in the second half of a 33-28 victory. The win demonstrated they c n compete with any program in the country.

McDonald credits Martin for being able to handle the pressure and learning to take everything one play at a time.

“I’ve seen some real growth maturity-wise and mentally,” McDonald said. “He felt he was carrying the whole world on his back when he first got here. … He’s learned that he’s going to make mistakes and that’s ok. The key is to not let it compound into the next play.

“We walk into every field on away games and the student sections are immediately on him. That’s tough for a young man that’s still in high school. He’s a smart kid, he didn’t allow that external stuff to impact his play. He continues to go out there and win his battles.”

Martin’s business approach to the game comes from his household.

His father, Demetrice Martin, is the cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator at the University of Oregon, where he’s committed to play next fall.

Being from a football family has allowed Martin to realize how he should operate in big-time moments. He’s hoping that preparation helps him take another step on the field this season.

“I’m just trying to level up my game,” he said. “I want to have a year I haven’t had before. Working hard and game planning is big for me. I want a ring on my finger. That’s our plan.”

The Bears continued their season with a 63-0 win over Desert Ridge in their home opener. They’ll travel to Tucson this week and face Salpointe Catholic, who reached the 5A state finals last year.

Basha has many notable games left in their schedule, including a rematch with Liberty, along with an away contest against powerhouse Chandler.

That said, there’s no doubt Martin will be the center of attention as the season progresses.

“His swagger on the field. He’s very dominant,” said MyKhael Sanford, who runs TummClouT/V, a football-based media outlet. “He makes you notice him when he walks onto the field with his style of play, his aggression and how he sets the tone. He’s the spark plug for Basha.”