Rhode Island transfer Tyrese Martin verbally committed to UConn on Tuesday, he tells 247Sports.

“I’m choosing UConn because that was the school I feel like checked out all the boxes for me during this process that I was looking for knowing I couldn’t take visits because of this pandemic situation,” Martin explained.

"I would only leave Rhode Island for an elite program like UConn," he added. "The pros and national championships were too much to turn down. I left a great program for an elite program."

Martin, a native of Allentown, Pa., had more than 15 high major schools reach out before narrowing his list of schools to five -- UConn, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon and Seton Hall. What stuck out about the Huskies?

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase myself on a bigger stage and I feel like the Big East is one of the top leagues in the country,” Martin explained. “Also having the opportunity to be myself and have an impact right away at the next school. Then to see where I can max out as a player to get to the NBA, which is the ultimate goal I feel like UConn has the resources and right people to help me get there."

Martin also noted that he built a relationship and appreciated the way Dan Hurley recruited him.

“Last but not least finding the difference between which head coach would love to have you and which ones would like to have you,” Martin explained. “I feel like coach Hurley was the most consistent and kept it real. I felt like that was a big priority for me.”

Martin is coming off an impressive sophomore season, where he averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 43.3-percent from the field.

“I feel like with the opportunity opening up on that team whether I’m able to play this upcoming season or the following I can help a lot. I can defend multiple guard positions and I rebound on both ends of the floor which I think can really help.”

Due to the current transfer rules, Martin will be forced to sit out next season unless he's able to get a waiver from the NCAA to become eligible next season.