Kenyon Martin looks just as intimidating off the court as he does on it. But somehow, the No. 1 pick in this past June's NBA Draft almost went unnoticed in the cozy confines of the UMass-Boston gymnasium.

Martin, 23, who was taken by the New Jersey Nets with the top overall pick, wasn't at the Shaw's Summer League to participate. He was in attendance to watch his former college teammate, DerMarr Johnson, and to show his commitment to his new team.

Clad in a gray bandana, gray warmup pants and a black T-shirt, Martin just sat in the bleachers, appearing unfazed by those around him as Johnson drained 3-pointers.

	Martin, 23, who was taken by the New Jersey Nets as the top overall pick, wasn't at the Shaw's Summer League to participate.

Martin, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound power forward, probably won't be knocking down trifectas when he returns from the broken foot that sidelined him from last year's NCAA Tournament, but he hopes to be spearheading the Nets' turnaround from a dismal 1999-2000 campaign.

"I'm playing now, just not organized ball," said Martin, who starred at Bryan Adams High (Dallas, Texas). He transferred from Roosevelt High (Lubbock, Texas) to Tyler Street Christian Academy (Dallas, Texas) to Adams, where he played his final two scholastic years. He then moved on to a stellar career at the University of Cincinnati. "I feel fine now, but it's better to be safe than sorry."

Martin, who averaged 19.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.4 blocks his senior season at Adams, said his doctors and trainers haven't yet given him the official go-ahead to begin playing with his teammates. But he isn't worried about picking up where he left off in college, when he won Player of the Year honors last winter.

"I'm fine and now I'll be OK," said Martin, who averaged 18.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game before hurting himself in the Conference USA Tournament. "The expectations are going to be there. I can't worry about what people want me to do and I can't try to please everyone. I just have to please my coach and my teammates.

"No matter what, I am going to be expected to produce right away."

Martin isn't certain when he'll return to the court, but he can guarantee that he'll be ready to play when the NBA regular season begins.

Said Martin, "That's a long way off and I'll definitely be ready."