One year at Purdue was enough for Scott Martin.

The former Valparaiso High School star has decided to leave the Boilermakers' basketball program.

"Scott told me that he intends to transfer," Purdue coach Matt Painter said via a press release issued Wednesday night. "We'll help him any way we can, and wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future."

Martin experienced a considerable amount of homesickness, especially during the first few months of the school year. But Painter said he sat down with Martin and talked to him about the situation. Painter later noted Martin had basically fought through the homesickness.

Messages left on Martin's cell phone and at the home of his parents in Valparaiso seeking comment were not returned.

"I truly valued my time here at Purdue," Martin said in the release. "I made many great friendships and met a lot of great people. I am thankful to the coaching staff and my teammates for the opportunity they have given me. I feel it is in my best interest to take a different route for my basketball career."

Late in the season, rumors began to swirl that, for several reasons, Martin might have been thinking about transferring to Valparaiso University.

Valpo head coach Homer Drew and his staff recruited Martin heavily out of high school, so it's no secret the Crusaders' coaching staff would surely welcome a possible transfer, here, with open arms.

When contacted by The Times, Drew was asked if he knew Martin was transferring.

"We just heard it a little while ago," he said.

Drew was asked if he planned on contacting Martin.

"It's a nice question, and as you know, I can't answer that," he said.

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on athletes transferring to a respective school until the player's school has completed all the paperwork and the athlete has been released from scholarship.

Bob Punter, Martin's high school coach, said he was a little bit surprised to hear Martin was transferring from Purdue, but not totally taken off guard.

"I have not talked to Scott at all," Punter said. "I'm not sure what's going through Scott's mind. I know he struggled with some injuries and I think he might have been a little bit surprised by the time commitment required in college as opposed to high school."

Punter said he had heard through the grapevine over the Christmas break that Martin was sore and tired and not particularly happy with his play.

"There's a lot more film to watch, and with all the weight lifting and the travel involved, I think maybe he got a little burned out throughout the winter with all the stress," Punter said. "Maybe he misses his girlfriend."

Martin was the Boilers' fourth-leading scorer and averaged 21.9 minutes per game.

-- Times staff writer David Robb contributed to this report