PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's basketball team has made their first addition to the 2024-25 roster via the transfer portal official by adding an accomplished forward.

The Scarlet Knights have signed graduate forward Zach Martini who spent his previous four years at Princeton. Standing at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Martini brings a wealth of experience to the Scarlet Knights.
During the 2023-24 season, the Warren, N.J. native started in all 29 games, averaging 8.4 points per game, and ranking fourth on the team in scoring.

"We are thrilled to officially welcome Zach Martini to The Knighthood," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "Zach is a player that brings all the things we are looking for in the transfer portal with his experience, toughness, and the ability to shoot the basketball. Zach comes from a tremendous family and his ties to Rutgers and love for New Jersey were evident during the entire process. He is a proven winner, and I am so excited that he has embraced being a part of the unique opportunity next season provides."  

Pikiell is most excited about the winning that Martini has done in the Ivy League and beyond. He was part of a Princeton Tigers program that was 47-14 the last two seasons and had a magical run to the Sweet 16 in 2023.

"One thing I take pride in is playing hard for 40 minutes and leaving it all on the court," Martini said. "That includes all the intangibles of boxing out, taking charges, running the floor, and talking. I am excited to be a vocal leader alongside Jeremiah (Williams) and some of the upperclassmen on this team for this exciting class. Oh, and I love to shoot threes. I'm a confident shooter. I'm going to shoot some threes."

His remarkable three-point shooting ability certainly highlights his performance on the court. He connected on 38.5 percent of his three-point attempts, ranking him seventh among the top shooters in the Ivy League. He made 60 three-pointers last season.

Martini took a few visits to campus during the process to visit Pikiell and campus and knew right away that the Scarlet Knights were his choice.

"I am a local kid and I live 25 minutes away from Piscataway, but I have never seen how amazing the practice facility was," Martini said. "I knew I wanted to come back. I came back the next week for my official visit. I had no other visits planned, and I did not think about visiting any other schools. I knew when I stepped foot on campus and met the staff that this was where I wanted to be. It was a cool bonus to meet (Rutgers Football's head) coach (Greg) Schiano too. That was amazing. I am a huge Rutgers (University) football fan. To meet him and sit down with him was special."

Martini's ability to perform under pressure was showcased in several key games, including a career-high 23-point performance against Penn where he shot an impressive 7-for-9 in three-pointers. Martini scored in double-digits in ten games last season for the Tigers.

In the 2022-23 season, Martini appeared in 24 games, showcasing his versatility, and scoring ability. Martini's played significant minutes in Princeton's Sweet 16 run in 2023 averaging 21 minutes per game in the tournament and scored seven points in the opening round upset victory over No. 2 Arizona.   

Off the court, Martini's academic achievements and leadership qualities further demonstrate his commitment to excellence. He was recognized as an Academic All-Ivy League in 2024 and earned a place on the NABC Honors Court in 2023, showcasing his dedication both on and off the court.  Martini is set to join the Rutgers Business School for his graduate studies.

"I can't wait," Martini said. "Coach Pikiell said I am heading up there on June 15th, so that date is marked on my calendar. I can't wait to get started with the guys, meet the team, and just be on campus. It's not too far from Princeton, so it's not too far from home. It is going to be a great transition."

Martini has especially enjoyed Rutgers Nation's reaction to his reported signing the past few weeks with his family.

"It was one of the most amazing parts about this whole process," Martini said. "The fan base and the support from the fan base without me even playing a game yet, was second to none. These fans care about Rutgers basketball, and it makes me feel like I am a part of something bigger than just the on-court product. I love it. I have seen some people making some martinis on X, some James Bond references, they never get stale coming from these Rutgers fans. It has been great."