Notre Dame forward Scott Martin has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will return for the 2012-13 season, the school announced Friday night.

"We're thrilled in the NCAA's decision to grant Scott a sixth year of eligibility," Irish coach Mike Brey said in a release. "Scott was our 'glue guy' this past season with our young team. He helped drive us with his experience and leadership. I was so proud of him in how he handled himself once Tim Abromaitis went down with his ACL injury. Scott is a great example for college basketball and we're excited that he gets an opportunity to play one more season in a Notre Dame uniform."

Martin, a Valparaiso, Ind., native, played his freshman year at Purdue in 2007-08 before transferring to Notre Dame to be closer to his sick father, sitting out the next season and then missing the 2009-10 campaign because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in a preseason workout.

One of three captains for the Irish last season, Martin averaged 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds for Notre Dame, which finished a surprising third in the Big East last season (22-12, 13-5). Abromaitis, one of the other captains from this past season, was denied a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA 10 days ago and will not appeal the decision.