Coach: Payne Likes Iowa, But Has Other Suitors

Schaumburg, Ill., point guard Cully Payne left Iowa on Wednesday impressed with the school, high school coach Bob Williams said.

“Everything he said about the visit was positive,” Williams said. “He liked the campus, he liked the coaches, he liked everything about the campus.”

Iowa has offered Payne a scholarship just days after Payne was released from his letter of intent from Alabama; Payne was slated to visit Washington State, but Coach Tony Bennett left for Virginia.

Williams said Tennessee and George Mason have contacted him about Payne as well.

Perhaps aiding Iowa’s chances is a familiar face. Former Schaumburg prep star Kyle Braheny was the head manager for the basketball team.

Williams said Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter plans to visit Payne and his family April ninth; The NCAA has instituted a dead period from April second through 12:01 p.m. April ninth.

Williams described the 6-foot-1 guard as unselfish, and a true leader.

“He’s a point guard, and he’s a true point guard in that fact that he’s very unselfish,” Williams said. “He does whatever is necessary to make the team successful. That’s probably his defining characteristic."

“We’ve had tremendous success here, and what we’re kind of known for is great teamwork and tremendous defense. That’s kind of what our tag has been. He averaged 22 points a game. He scan score; the kid can flat-out score, but he’s not selfish in anyway whatsoever," Williams continued.

That’s rare to find a kid who can score a lot of points, but run the team and get the ball where it’s supposed to be.

Payne played two years of high school ball at Burlington Central in the Chicago suburbs before transferring to Schaumburg. He injured his back this year, and missed the final month of the season.

Payne originally committed to DePaul, but pulled out earlier this year. Then he committed to Alabama, but was released from his commitment when Crimson Tide Coach Mark Gottfried resigned.

Payne comes from an athletic background. His father, Kent Payne, is athletics director at Elgin (Ill.) Community College.

Four different Iowa players announced they were leaving the program last week. Iowa likely will offer three scholarships during the spring signing period, which begins April 15th.

Iowa also hopes to land freshman guard Malcolm Armstead (6-foot) and sophomore forward Torye Pelham (6-6) from Chipola (Fla.) Junior College.