When Cameron Payne came out of high school in Memphis he had options, he led a well-respected AAU team, and in the end he chose a well respected mid-major program at Murray State.
Now after a couple years there, the point guard who led the Racers to being a bubble team to make the tournament this year is thinking of entering the NBA draft. That’s what Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports wrote about recently.
Murray State sophomore guard Cameron Payne is leaning toward entering the 2015 NBA draft, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Although Payne has yet to formalize his decision, indications are strong that he’s played his final game in college, sources said. Payne, 20, and his family are hosting presentations from several major NBA agents in their hometown of Memphis, Tenn., this week, sources said.
Payne is considered a bubble first/second round pick if he comes out. If it’s about the NBA he needs to think about this — second round picks do not have guarateed contracts. He could be cut during or before training camp. However, if he’s comfortable with time in the D-League or overseas then this may be the right call.
Here is what Rob Dauster of our sisters site CollegeBasketballTalk said about Payne as a prospect:
“At 6-2, Payne doesn’t have great size for the one. He’ll need to add some strength as well, and those expecting a freak athlete the likes of Damian Lillard or Russell Westbrook will be disappointed. But Payne has an elite feel for the game. He knows how to use change of pace to get into the lane, and he can find open teammates when he draws help. He’s got three point range and he’s gotten better at finishing in the lane with floaters and short jumpers, but he doesn’t have the vertical explosiveness to finish at the rim. He might be able to work his way into the back end of the first round, but likely projects as a backup point guard at the next level.”
