Chuck Martin mentions Rob Dillingham in same breath as Derrick Rose: 'He's as dynamic of a player I've been around in 25 years.'

Kentucky assistant coach Chuck Martin has been around plenty of high-level basketball players throughout his career, which now spans two-plus decades. He’s been coaching college basketball in some capacity since 1999 when he got his start as an assistant at Seton Hall. Martin was even the head coach at Marist for five seasons (2008-13) before sliding back into a secondary role.

Some of the notable players he’s helped develop over the years include Yogi Yogi Ferell, Thomas Bryant, and OG Anunoby at Indiana; AJ Lawson and Chris Silva at South Carolina; and Chris Douglas-Roberts, Joey Dorsey, and Derrick Rose at Memphis while serving under John Calipari.

That’s a pretty impressive roster of players he helped along the way, particularly Rose, who went on to be an NBA MVP. Martin will add several more NBA players to his developmental resume once the 2024 NBA Draft takes place this summer.

But one of those future NBA players sticks out above the rest. That would be Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham, who was showered with praise from Martin during Friday’s pre-Tennessee press conference.

“He’s as dynamic of a player I’ve been around in 25 years,” Martin said. “And I’ve been around Derrick Rose, been around some really good players.”

Rob Dilling-HIM. The man with the shifts. pic.twitter.com/aMcAVBc19Z

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 8, 2024

Dillingham has been everything the Kentucky coaches and fan base would have wanted, and then some. Well, more than “some” actually. Dillingham has exceeded even the loftiest of expectations. He’s currently projected as a possible top-three pick come the draft in June. If it weren’t for his teammate, Reed Sheppard, Dillingham is likely the top choice for SEC and National Freshman of the Year.

“First, Rob really works at it,” Martin added. “Like I mentioned earlier, all our guys are gym rats. He’s in the gym constantly. Before practice, after practice, on the weekends, he’s working on his craft. That being said, he has a unique skill set that not many people have at 6-foot-2. He just knows how to score the ball. He understands angles, he understands timing, he can disrupt your defensive timing, he’s just unbelievable.”

Unbelievable might somehow be selling Dillingham short, too. Jaw-dropping or otherworldly or how in the HELL did he just do that? could also fit the mold. Truthfully, there probably isn’t a way to accurately describe Dillingham’s game with one adjective or phase. He has shifted our perception of what it means to be a microwave player in college hoops. It’s more like being thrown into the sun.

While he’s been excellent for most of the season, let’s just focus on his play against SEC competition — which is actually better compared to his overall season averages. In 16 conference games, Dillingham is averaging 16.3 points and 3.4 assists (both second on the team) per outing on shooting splits of 50/43.4/78.8. He has six games against SEC foes with at least 20 points, including his career-high 35 against Tennessee last month.

“He can score the ball as well as anyone and he’s got an inner confidence that he shares with the world and he’s just incredible,” Martin said. “And he’s gotten better. He’s starting to be a facilitator, he’s starting to find people. I think the last few games, him and (Zvonimir Ivisic) have had a nice rhythm — side pick-and-roll, lob dunks. Rob can really, really play. He’s gotten better defensively. He’s a good teammate and he’s committed to it.”

When Kentucky takes on Tennessee in the regular-season finale on Saturday in Knoxville, another big-time Dillingham performance could be a major factor in the Wildcats coming out with the win — and the SEC Tournament double-bye that comes with it. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. EST on CBS.

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