Michigan State's Adreian Payne Lottery-Potential
The four-year NBA prospect is a rarity nowadays, but Michigan State's senior center Adreian Payne will buck that change in the 2014 NBA Draft. At 6'10" and a solid 245 pounds, Payne moves like a gazelle, more agile than most any other player of his size in the college game right now.
As Payne's 2012-13 starting counterpart, Derrick Nix, has now-graduated, Payne will be the lone big in the Spartans' four-out offense, leaving plenty of room to post-up and a plethora of boards to collect and put back for buckets.
But Payne isn't just athletic, he is skilled. His offensive game has come long ways since his first days on campus. Payne has extended his range out to the 3-point line, become a high-post triple threat to knock down a mid-range shot, put the ball on the floor or find the open man on the wing.
As the state of the NBA continues to develop and value mobile, versatile bigs, who can clean the glass, guard the perimeter and score both inside and out, Payne's stock will continue to rise.
By Steven Spector -11-10-13
