Home > Blogs > High School Huddle > Archives > 2009 > September > 18 > Entry
Adreian Payne: Kentucky visit next week, more coming
Adreian Payne, the highly recruited center from Jefferson High School, is scheduled to visit Kentucky next week and has visits coming in the next few months to his other finalists: Michigan State, West Virginia, Kansas and Arizona.
Payne said during a news conference to announce the schedule for the 2010 Flyin’ to the Hoop basketball event that he didn’t know the specific dates of the other visits and that he doesn’t yet have the schools ranked.
At 6 feet 10 and 215 pounds, Payne has the long arms for shot-blocking and quickness up and down the floor that college coaches love in a big man. Art Winston, the Jefferson coach, said Payne might even be growing.
Payne said he maintains an ongoing invitation to University of Dayton open gym sessions even though he has eliminated UD from the list of schools he is considering. He said neighbors and friends will sometimes question his decision not to attend UD.
“Sometimes they say, ‘Oh, you should’ve thought about it more,’ ” Payne said. “But it’s not too bad.”
Tweet
Comments
By Jeff
September 18, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this
Come to Lexington!! After Cousins and Patterson leave next year they could use you down low…
By Sky Walker
September 18, 2009 8:22 PM | Link to this
Adreian, Of all the big guys, you’re the one I most want to see in Blue. CJ Leslie is good, but you’ve got a tenacity on defense that I appreciate. It’s close to Dayton and the girls are the prettiest in the land. The only ones who might be prettier are at USC or UCLA, but who wants to deal with that shallow LA attitude. We led attendance for something around 29 of the last 30 years or so. We were at least #2 when we weren’t #1. Cal loves his guards I know, but look at most of our legends: big men. You’ll do just fine and it’s not too far from home. Have a good time. Keep us in mind. -SkyWalker
By JessieWildcat
September 19, 2009 1:01 AM | Link to this
Big Blue…haven’t you heard is in NCAA trouble. Already with THREE NCAA violations…it is ONLY a matter of time. Be careful. Very careful. wildaboutazcats.com/2009/09/13/virginas-academics-and-coaching-staff-swayed-johnson/#comments
By dayton pride
September 24, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this
Adreian, you’re a heckuva player and I wish you all the success in the world. It’s nice to see Dayton area guys achieve in the basketball world. Although I am a UD fan, I can accept your decision to go somewhere else, as long as it is YOUR decision, and not Art Winston’s. Coach Winston may be advising you to go to UK or elsewhere, but will it be because he gets offered an assistant job there? It sure seems like he is trying to ride your coattails out of Jefferson High and on to a bigger stage. Getting a reputation of putting a D-IV kid at UK or Kansas or MSU would do wonders for HIM. What will it do for YOU? If you truly believe you are best served by going to one of those final schools, and that you can get enough playing time to get to the NBA, then truly, best wishes to you. You won’t be the first or last local kid to spurn UD. Hutson, Brown, Sato, Carmona, Harper come to mind. They’ll be fine without you, but better with you. If it’s Art Winston pulling your strings, step back and consider his motivations, for your own sake.
By Wally
September 30, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this
Adreian,you only have this opportunity once in your lifetime. Take your time and consider what your short and long range goals are,then see where you can best attain them. As a longtime Arizona Wildcat fan, I’ve watched numerous young men accomplish their goals and enjoy college doing it. All us Wildcat fans here would love to see you here in ARIZONA, guided by a great coach, and cheered on by knowledgable & loyal fans.