A basketball odyssey
Shepard graduate Steve Payne, one of the most skilled players of the 1990s, talks playing all over Europe to coaching in college to coaching in the NBA G League
Shepard grad Steve Payne talks playing in Europe, coaching in the NBAGLeague.
The Southland has developed dozens of student-athletes who have made it to the top of the professional sports mountain.
Steve Payne, one of the most skilled players of the 1990s, didn’t make it to theNBA.
I amcertain, however, that the 1991 Shepard graduate has experienced a professional basketball journey like no other playing in Europe.
Payne’s story is a testament to his unwavering discipline, enormous talent and willingness to adapt and learn.
It’s also about sacrifice. “You have to have an open mind to do it,” Payne said. “If not, it can be a rough ride.”
Payne, a 6-foot-7 forward, was amonster player at Shepard. He possessed the skill and versatility to alter a game on both ends of the court.
He averaged 24.7 points and 12.7 rebounds as a senior and 24.1 points and 10.3 rebounds as a junior. If Eddy Curry had Payne’s heart and determination, hewould be in theNaismithMemorial BasketballHall of Fame.
After making his mark at Shepard, Paynewas a threetime Mid-American Conference honoree at Ball State who majored in criminal justice.
Without anNBA offer, he decided to go overseas.
“Iwanted to keep playing after college,” Payne said. “Going to Europe gave me the best chance to do that and make a living.”
During a 14-year career, Payne played in Spain, Italy, France, Turkey and Switzerland.
Payne didn’t just use professional basketball exclusively to see theworld, although it gave him that vehicle. Hemaximized each experience by embracing each country’s history and hardships.
He learned. He listened. He grew us a person.
“The one thing you always learnedwas the discipline of the journey,” he said. “I made it a point, wherever Iwas, to learn the language. If you didn’t do that, youweren’t able to embrace the culture, and the peoplewouldn’t embrace you.
“I could have conversations with people and appreciate the diversity of all of these cultures and theirway of living. I could be a part of their community.”
The journey, though, demanded sacrifices. Particularly
in spending time with his family.
“Being away frommy family was tough,” he said. “Each time I would come home, my parents were getting older, my brother and sisterwere getting older. But you keep going.”
Even when hewas scared for his life.
Payne recalled a time when hewas playing in the European Cup in Israel.
“Wewere driving through the West Bank,” he said. “At one of the checkpoints, we had flashlights and machine guns pointed at us through the windowof our van. Thatwas uncomfortable.”
Payne ended his playing career in 2009. During his last two seasons, he added the duties of
coaching while playing.
He regrets not hanging up his sneakers sooner and beginning to coach.
“Thatwould have allowedme to build up coaching contacts sooner,” he said.
Payne returned to America for good in 2010 and landed an assistant coaching position at Utah ValleyUniversity.
In 2013, he accepted another assistant coaching position at DetroitMercy, where he remained until 2016.
For the past four seasons, Payne has been an assistant coach for theWisconsinHerd of theNBAGLeague.
He has enjoyed each stop on the coaching ladder.
“We have like sevenMcDonald’s All-Americans on the Herd,” Payne said. “Kids with different backgrounds and different attitudes. It’s been a great experience.”
Nowage 48, Payne ultimately wants to be a head coach. He isn’t sure if that will be at the college or pro level.
He hasn’t ruled out coaching in high school.
“High school is a grind,” Payne said. “But you have to keep an open mind.”
I asked Payne, a divorced father of two daughters, Tatiana, 20, and Stephanie, 12, whatwas his fondest memory of Shepard.
“I attended Eisenhowermy freshman year,” he said. “I didn’t make the varsity team. I got cut and played on the freshmen team.
“The district ended up rezoning, and I ended up at Shepard my sophomore year. My senior year, we played Eisenhower. I took that game personal. I had nine dunks. Iwanted to make a statement.
“The transition to Shepard wasn’t bad. Itwas a very disciplined school. It helped me tremendously and prepared me for college academically. I’ve been able to go on this journey because of Shepard.”
And what a journey it has been.