#teamlebron: Jake Martin

Stats

Name: Jake Martin
Age: 18
Hometown: Darlington, WI
Twitter: @TheJakeMartin

1. Tell us about you & your background.

I’m a senior in high school in Darlington, Wisconsin. I have one sister, Katie, who is 21. She is going to college to pursue a career in physical therapy. I enjoy playing basketball. I played this past season on a torn ACL, but not a game went by without wearing my custom LeBron 9′s. My season ended when I tore my other ACL. This would be the third ACL tear for me in three years. Although my basketball career is over, seeing LeBron play has helped me overcome my struggles.

2. How long have you been a LeBron fan? And what was the first piece of gear that you ever bought?

I became aware of LeBron James when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated while he was just a high schooler. After seeing him on ESPN several times, I became amazed by his presence on the court. My family took a trip to Cleveland when I was in 4th grade. While my sister attended a basketball camp at Cleveland State, my parents took me across the street to the Gund Arena (Quicken Loans Arena) where my parents bought me my first LeBron jersey. Just seeing the King’s place of work propelled me into becoming the fan I am today.

3. How many pieces of LeBron & Heat gear do you have total? And what are your favorite pieces that you’ve collected so far.

My LeBron collection is countless. I’ve collected so many items over the years that I can’t keep track of it all. My favorite pieces are my custom LeBron 9′s and my LeBron Floridian jersey.

4. Who would you like to see LeBron & the Heat play in the 2012 NBA Finals?

I would like to see the Mavericks play LeBron and the Heat again. King James could get revenge on Dirk and show the world that losing to the Mavs last year was a fluke.

5. Do you have any shoutouts or messages that you want to send out?

I would like to give a shoutout to LeBron for being someone I can always look up to. He is and always will be my favorite athlete of all time. I would also like to give a shoutout to my friends Dave and Kyle Rechlicz. Kyle was coaching Cleveland State at the time, and had it not been for her inviting my sister to basketball camp, I might not have ever made it to Cleveland. So yes, Joakim Noah. People do go on vacation to Cleveland.