Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Candida Lucia
Alijah Martin comes from a sports-oriented family in Summit, Mississippi, that helped shape him into one of the most versatile athletes of his generation. Born Alijah Randall Edwin Martin on December 26, 2001, the Toronto Raptors guard is the son of Tina Martin and Randall Ridley. He grew up alongside two siblings, Alayshia Martin and Jaylen Martin.
Martin’s mother had an especially important influence on his basketball career. Tina was already coaching basketball when Alijah was born and introduced him to the sport before he could even walk. His family encouraged him as he competed in basketball, football, baseball, soccer and track before eventually choosing basketball as the sport he wanted to pursue professionally.
Who Is Alijah Martin’s Girlfriend?
Alijah Martin has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or wife through a reliable major source. He has generally kept his romantic relationships away from interviews and official basketball coverage.
A small number of secondary online profiles have claimed that Martin became engaged in 2026 to a Toronto-based woman named Sophie Mae Jones. However, that information has not been independently confirmed by Martin, the Toronto Raptors or a well-established sports or news organization.
For that reason, it would be premature to present Sophie Mae Jones as Alijah Martin’s confirmed fiancée without stronger documentation.
As of now, Martin’s relationship status should therefore be considered private unless he publicly provides additional information.
Does Alijah Martin Have Children?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Alijah Martin has children. His official biographies from Florida, Florida Atlantic and the NBA do not identify him as a father.
As of now, Martin has no publicly confirmed son or daughter.
Who Are Alijah Martin’s Parents?
Alijah Martin’s parents are Tina Martin and Randall Ridley. The University of Florida’s official basketball biography directly identifies both of them as his parents.
Of the two, Tina has appeared much more frequently in stories about Alijah’s childhood and basketball development. She has attended important games throughout his career and has publicly discussed the path that took him from Summit to college basketball and eventually the NBA.
Tina Martin – Alijah Martin’s Mother
Tina Martin, also referred to publicly as Tina Wells-Martin, is Alijah Martin’s mother. She is a middle-school teacher and has worked as a youth basketball coach.
Basketball became part of Alijah’s life almost immediately because of his mother. Tina has recalled that she was coaching basketball when her son was born, meaning there was a basketball around him before he was old enough to walk.
One of Alijah’s earliest basketball opponents was his older sister, Alayshia. Tina remembered watching her daughter use her age and size advantage against her younger brother during their childhood games. She knew that would eventually change as Alijah grew bigger and developed as an athlete.
Tina also made education a priority when Alijah began attracting attention from college programs. He was talented enough to receive opportunities in both football and basketball, but his mother wanted him to focus on one college sport while still having sufficient time for academics.
Her support remained evident during Alijah’s years at Florida Atlantic. When the Owls reached the 2023 Final Four in Houston, Tina traveled from Mississippi with members of the family to watch him play on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
Randall Ridley – Alijah Martin’s Father
Randall Ridley is Alijah Martin’s father. Florida’s official biography names him alongside Tina Martin as Alijah’s parent.
Compared with Alijah’s mother, Randall has maintained a significantly lower public profile. There is very little reliable information about his occupation, sporting background or personal life in established basketball coverage.
Because of that limited information, claims about Randall beyond his confirmed relationship as Alijah Martin’s father should be treated cautiously.
Who Are Alijah Martin’s Siblings?
Alijah Martin has two publicly documented siblings: Alayshia Martin and Jaylen Martin. Both names appear in his official University of Florida biography.
Florida also describes Martin as coming from a family filled with athletes in different sports, although detailed sporting biographies for each sibling are not widely available.
Alayshia Martin – Alijah Martin’s Sister
Alayshia Martin is Alijah Martin’s older sister. She has the most clearly documented athletic connection among his siblings.
Alijah’s mother has spoken publicly about the siblings playing basketball against each other when they were children. Because Alayshia was older, she initially had the advantage and frequently gave her younger brother difficult competition.
Those childhood games helped expose Alijah to physical basketball against an older opponent long before he became a highly regarded player himself.
Alayshia also played basketball at North Pike High School in Summit. Historical high-school rosters list her with the North Pike girls basketball program during the period before Alijah became a standout at the same school.
She continued to support her younger brother as his career developed. During Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four run, Alijah’s sister traveled with their mother and another relative from Mississippi to Houston to watch him compete.
Jaylen Martin – Alijah Martin’s Sibling
Jaylen Martin is Alijah Martin’s other sibling. The University of Florida officially lists Jaylen alongside Alayshia in Alijah’s family information.
Unlike Alayshia, Jaylen has maintained a very private public profile. Reliable basketball sources provide little additional information about Jaylen’s education, career or sporting background.
Because Jaylen is not a public sports figure, details beyond the family connection should not be assumed from unverified social-media accounts or unrelated people with the same name.
Alijah Martin Comes From an Athletic Family
The University of Florida describes Martin as coming from a family filled with athletes, and Alijah himself demonstrated that versatility from childhood.
Basketball was only one of several sports he played. Martin also participated in football, baseball, soccer and track and field while growing up in Mississippi.
Football initially generated considerable recruiting attention. At North Pike High School, Martin was a standout quarterback who passed for more than 2,100 yards and rushed for more than 1,300 yards during his senior season.
He simultaneously excelled in basketball, averaging approximately 25 points per game as a senior, and earned first-team all-state recognition in multiple sports.
Martin was also an elite high-school track athlete, with success in jumping events. His combination of speed, strength and explosiveness later became defining qualities of his basketball game.
How Alijah Martin’s Mother Influenced His Basketball Career
Few people have been more influential in Martin’s sporting life than his mother. Tina’s background as a basketball coach meant that her son learned the fundamentals of the sport from an unusually young age.
However, she did not force him exclusively toward basketball. Alijah was allowed to experience several sports, eventually developing into a high-level football player and track athlete as well.
When college recruitment became serious, Tina helped him evaluate the opportunities available and encouraged him to balance athletics with education.
His road to Florida Atlantic was unusual. Martin had been close to joining McNeese State when an unexpected roster opening became available at FAU. Because COVID-era restrictions prevented an ordinary campus visit, the Florida Atlantic coaching staff gave Martin and his mother a virtual tour using an iPad while driving around campus.
Martin ultimately chose FAU, beginning the college career that would eventually take him to two Final Fours and an NCAA championship.
Alijah Martin’s Journey From Mississippi to the NBA
Martin spent four seasons at Florida Atlantic, becoming one of the most accomplished players in program history. His biggest breakthrough came during the 2023 NCAA Tournament, when he helped the Owls reach their first Final Four.
After the 2023-24 season, Martin transferred to the University of Florida for his final year of college eligibility.
The move resulted in another historic postseason run. Martin became a key starter for the Gators during the 2024-25 season and helped Florida win the 2025 NCAA national championship.
Toronto then selected Martin with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
He spent his rookie season splitting time between the Raptors and Raptors 905, earning several NBA G League honors while continuing his development.
In July 2026, Martin agreed to a two-year NBA contract with Toronto worth a reported $4.8 million, converting his early opportunity into a standard NBA deal.
FAQ About Alijah Martin’s Family
Who is Alijah Martin’s girlfriend?
Alijah Martin has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through a reliable major source. Some secondary websites have reported a 2026 engagement, but the claim has not been independently verified by Martin or an authoritative sports outlet.
Is Alijah Martin married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Alijah Martin is married.
Does Alijah Martin have children?
No children have been publicly confirmed for Alijah Martin.
Who are Alijah Martin’s parents?
Alijah Martin’s parents are Tina Martin and Randall Ridley.
Who is Alijah Martin’s mother?
Alijah Martin’s mother is Tina Martin, also publicly referred to as Tina Wells-Martin. She is a middle-school teacher and youth basketball coach who introduced her son to basketball at a very young age.
Who is Alijah Martin’s father?
Alijah Martin’s father is Randall Ridley. He maintains a private life, and relatively little reliable information about him has been published.
Does Alijah Martin have siblings?
Yes. Alijah Martin has two publicly documented siblings, Alayshia Martin and Jaylen Martin.
Who is Alayshia Martin?
Alayshia Martin is Alijah Martin’s older sister. She played basketball at North Pike High School and regularly competed against Alijah when they were children.
Who is Jaylen Martin?
Jaylen Martin is Alijah Martin’s sibling. Jaylen has maintained a private life, so little additional reliable biographical information is publicly available.
Where is Alijah Martin from?
Alijah Martin is from Summit, Mississippi, where he attended North Pike High School.
What is Alijah Martin’s full name?
His full name is Alijah Randall Edwin Martin.
Does Alijah Martin play for the Toronto Raptors?
Yes. Martin was selected by Toronto with the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and signed a multi-year standard NBA contract with the Raptors in July 2026.
Candida Lucia is a sports journalist and NBA writer specializing in tactical game analysis, player development, and league coverage. With an eye for on-court execution and team dynamics, she delivers detailed breakdowns of strategy, roster updates, and key performance trends. Passionate about bringing readers closer to the game, Candida offers engaging insights on every aspect of the NBA season, from regular-season battles to the Finals.
