We've seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a 'Getting to Know' series on some players who have attended events over the past few years but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today's edition will take a closer look at Moses Payne of Butler High School.
We've seen Payne in all possible settings, including at our NC Phenom 150 Camp prior to the season, where we stated, 'Next, we look at a player that is able to truly embrace his two-way identity with any group of teammates, Moses Payne. He's a long, wiry wing prospect with a smooth perimeter jumper, especially from beyond the arc, and the ability to spot-up with relative ease. Payne can handle the ball as needed and does a great job of overwhelming his assignment on defense by utilizing his length. He's a quality rebounder and low-maintenance player that doesn'trequire touches to make an impact. Next in his development process is working on his ability to penetrate, as it would complement his three-point shooting nicely. Coach Dawkins on Payne: 'Moses can get really hot from beyond the arc and shoots it with the best of them. He started the second half of the first game hitting three consecutive three-pointers from deep range. Moses is a nice defender and knows how to move without the ball to find space for spot-up chances.' Payne continues to prove himself as an asset and should remain among the strongest contributors for Butler over the next few years.'
Payne is a long, wiry shooter with quality defensive instincts and the ability to complement any collection of players. He's a great spot-up threat with useful vision and ball-handling skills. With Patrick Wessler departing, Payne should see a massive uptick in overall production. The trio of Payne, Ty Black, and Jordan McPhatter could emerge as leaders during the upcoming season. Payne already has the tools to succeed at the next level, but it'll be interesting to see the additions and improvements to his game over the next calendar year.
