Former Western Kentucky star Clarence Martin dies in Georgia

<p>Clarence Martin, a center on successful Western Kentucky teams in the mid-1980s, died at his Marietta, Ga. home on Thursday. He was 41.</p><p>The 6-foot-8 Martin, an Alexander City, Ala. native, played in 126 games across five seasons for the Hilltoppers, finishing with 888 points, 684 rebounds and 198 blocks. He was awarded a fifth year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending knee injury early in his sophomore year.</p><p>Martin and the Hilltoppers reached the NCAA tournament in his final two seasons, advancing past the first round both times. The 1986-87 Toppers won the Sun Belt's regular season championship.</p><p>Martin was a third-round draft pick of the Utah Jazz in the 1987 NBA draft, but opted for a professional career in Japan. Martin later returned to Kentucky and worked in Danville and Bowling Green for a number of years before moving to Georgia.</p><p>Martin is survived by his wife, Faye Martin, and two daughters, Chelsea and Caitlin, of Marietta, Ga.; a sister, LySandra Bowles, of Bowling Green; and three brothers, Gerald and Willie Carl Martin of Alexander City, Ala.; William Martin of Port Arthur, Texas.</p><p>Retired Western Kentucky University sports information director Paul Just said the family planned to have the funeral in Bowling Green, but that arrangements were incomplete.</p><p>Just had no details on Martin's death.</p>