Report: Indiana reaches out to Jacksonville transfer big man Stephon Payne III

  • 2h ago
 

As Indiana continues to recruit the transfer portal in search of frontcourt players, a potential target from the ASUN emerged Tuesday evening.

Tobias Bass reported contact between IU and Jacksonville transfer big man Stephon Payne III.

In addition to Indiana, Payne told Bass that he’s also heard from Louisville, LSU, Oklahoma, Nevada, Charleston and Virginia Tech since entering the transfer portal.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Payne played the last two seasons at Jacksonville after beginning his career at Incarnate Word.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward averaged 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots in 21.2 minutes per game for the Dolphins. He shot 53.2 percent from the field.

Payne was among the best offensive rebounders in the country last season, according to KenPom.com. He ranked 32nd nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 14.2. In ASUN play, his offensive rebounding percentage of 15.9 ranked second in the league.

He was also fifth in the ASUN in block percentage and fourth in the conference in steal percentage.

Over 91 career games between Jacksonville and Incarnate Word, Payne averages 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and one block in 20.7 minutes per game. He’s made 64 career starts and is a career 50.9 percent shooter from the field.

A 2022 graduate of Andrew Jackson High School, Payne averaged 17.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and four blocked shots per game as a senior and was named defensive player of the year in his conference.

Payne has one season of eligibility remaining.

(Photo credit: Jacksonville Athletics)

Category: Recruiting

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