At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned prospects in the senior class. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III, or NAIA levels (with several others exploring the JUCO path). That number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we try to highlight guys who are under-recruited by college coaches or overlooked by the masses. This edition will feature Tysere Payne of Ben L. Smith.
We’ve watched Payne completely transform as a player, previously stating, “He’s a big, sturdy post prospect with great size as an interior piece. Payne displayed solid touch around the basket and an active motor on both ends of the floor. He does a nice job of pursuing rebounds and altering shots defensively while playing within the flow of the team structure on offense. Next in his development process is working on his overall mobility, as it would open up his game on either side of the ball. Coach Doughty on Payne: “Mr. Payne is a youngster. He has upside for sure, but needs to continue working on his post moves on the block. When his upper-body strength develops, he will be more effective around the basket. Tysere has soft touch around the rim but has to improve his footwork. He’s going to be special if he puts in the work.” Payne highlighted a lot of enticing flashes during his time at camp and will certainly be a prospect to monitor over the coming years.”
Arguably no prospect in North Carolina has improved more than Payne over the last calendar year. He’s legitimately gone from a borderline college player to an obvious asset at the next level, yet still has considerable upside remaining. Payne excels as a low-maintenance big man who can control the glass, protect the rim, and finish around the basket. He possesses a strong, sturdy frame with the necessary length and timing to consistently alter shots defensively. Payne is a capable finisher on the block, but typically finds most of his opportunities through drop-offs and putback chances. He runs the floor well in transition and does a nice job of walling-up without fouling. Coach Waddell and Partee have done an amazing job with his development, and Payne should be a difference-maker for a college program.