http://datumedge.blogspot.com/2012/05/publishing-from-github-to-maven-central.html
Once you to the mvn release, make sure to follow the instructions in http://central.sonatype.org/pages/releasing-the-deployment.html
After doing that, your artifact will show up in maven central in about 2 hours.
Had to put gpg.passphase into settings.xml profiles=sign section. That should only be added right before doing a publish; then take it out. I've left it in for now.