Written by Walter Hines
Francisco "Kiko" Martinez was already a sports legend when he arrived at NM A&M in 1936 at the not so tender age of 24. He was destined to lead the Aggies to national basketball prominence.
Martinez first gained fame at El Paso High where he led the Tigers to great success in basketball in the late 20s. A clever, smooth player, Kiko was a purist who loved the game from the first time he played. On the dusty, rough-and-tumble playgrounds of El Paso, he played endless pick-up games. When alone, he practiced tirelessly and mastered the fundamentals--dribbling, passing, footwork and set shooting. But it was his strong will and coolness that stood out. Teammates and opponents saw the confidence and knew that Martinez didn't buckle under pressure.