Torn finger tendon shelves Curtis' Martin

The world was Hassan Martin’s oyster. A dunking and shot-blocking machine, he was the talk of Staten Island – and in some circles the city – in leading undefeated Curtis to a rout of rival McKee/Staten Island Tech in mid-December.

Three days later, the gifted 6-foot-7 junior caught a pass in the post the wrong way, the ball bending back the middle finger on his left shooting hand the entire way. He finished the game, playing through immense pain, and afterward couldn’t move the finger.

It didn’t get better as he missed Curtis’ game last Thursday against Eagle, a six-point loss. Doctors told him he had a torn tendon in the finger and Friday afternoon he came to the realization his season was over.

Denis Gostev

Curtis' Hassan Martin is out for the year after tearing a tendom is his left -- shooting -- middle finger.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said before Curtis’ impressively dominant 86-59 win at Moore Catholic in Staten Island High School League action. “My heart just dropped. I was shocked. I thought I would be back in two weeks.”

“I just keep thinking about the game how bad I want to play,” added Martin, who has already been offered a scholarship from Fordham and holds interest from several Division I programs, such as Providence and Rutgers. “I miss being on the court with my team.”

Martin wanted to play through the paint, to wear some kind of protection over the finger, but his doctor said it could damage the finger further, limit its flexibility.

“It’s devastating, but you try to look at the bright side and the positives,” Curtis coach Rich Buckheit said. “He’s already got a scholarship offer and a lot of schools following him. He’s already had a great half-a-year. It’s not a knee, not an ankle. We’re trying to be positive about it.”

Martin will undergo surgery this week and begin the three-month rehabilitation process. He plans to spend the spring and summer playing AAU basketball in preparation for his senior year.

“I got to stay in shape, so I’ll go running a lot. I can’t fall off,” he said. “I can work on my right hand – that’s the only good thing I see.”

zbraziller@nypost.com