As a freshman, Fred Payne averaged around 18 points, six rebounds and two steals per game for Lincoln Prep (LA). He was named to the 2019-20 MaxPreps Freshman All-American Team, All-District 1-1A second team and helped lead his high school program to a 22-9 record on the season.
But his stay in Grambling, Louisiana, has ended and he’s recently announced that he will play for Sunrise Christian (KS) next season behind five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler and for head coach Luke Barnwell.
His transfer was led mostly by his development and the competition at Sunrise.
“I didn’t have a gym to get in every morning and I love to be in a gym. I’m a gym rat.” he explained. “[Also] playing against better people and playing the game at a high major school.”
Payne is already well known by coaches. He has early offers from Grambling State, New Orleans and Houston recently offered.
“[Houston] has a great coaching staff,” he said. “And they play the game how I play.”
Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Baylor, among others, are following him as well.
Also, he said that the school he really wants to hear from is Memphis.
After a sneak peek of his game as a freshman in Louisiana, many programs have already become intrigued by his game and like his motor on both ends of the floor.
“[Coaches like] how I shoot it, ball handling and I play hard,” he said. “Houston like the way I play defense and play both ends.”
The next step in his maturation is improving his mid-range game. That will start with his jumper and being able to make moves outside 15-feet.
“My pull up jumper,” he said when asked what he was working on. “Getting stronger, faster, really playing defense and finishing dunking.”
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