Meet the Newbies: Evan Payne
By Josh Horton
March 6, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Loyola Marymount Lions fans against the Portland Pilots during the second half of the WCC Basketball Championships at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
After a super-disappointing season last year, head coach Max Good must be feeling like he is on the hot seat at Loyola Marymount. Even though the Lions had one of the best scoring guards in the country last season in Anthony Ireland, they could not produce wins. In the offseason, Good and his coaching staff added pieces to the Lions’ backcourt this offseason through recruiting. Along with seniors Ireland and Ayodeji Egbeyemi, and junior Chase Flint, freshmen Nino Jackson and Evan Payne look to bolster the Lions’ backcourt play this upcoming season. We have already highlighted Jackson, so naturally here is a closer look at Loyola Marymount freshman guard Evan Payne.
At Walsh Jesuit High School
Payne, who is originally from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, played his high school ball at Walsh Jesuit High School. During his senior year at Walsh, Payne racked up a great deal of accolades. Payne was an Associated Press Division II All-Ohio selection, and the All-Northeast Ohio Inland District Player of the Year. As a senior, he averaged 24.5 points per game. Instead of jumping straight to Division I basketball, Payne decided to go the prep school route, and united with fellow Lion commit Nino Jackson at Kingdom Prep Academy in Columbus, Georgia.
At Kingdom Prep Academy
At Kingdom Prep, Payne saw a lot of success. In his lone season as a “Mighty Lion,” Payne aided Kingdom Prep in winning the NACA Divison III Championship. After the season, Payne decided to take his talents out west and play collegiate basketball at Loyola Marymount.
Impact at Loyola Marymount
With Payne’s athleticism and scoring ability, he should prove to be a sufficient replacement for current LMU starting shooting guard Ayodeji Egbeyemi. Alongside Nino Jackson, this duo of guards could form one of the best offensive backcourts on the west coast in coming years.