New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)

Cromwell’s Payne can do a bit of everything

- By Joe Morelli

Victor Payne can beat you in a lot of different ways. The junior from Cromwell can get to the basket, has the mid-range game down pat and can even shoot it from the 3-point line.

He can rebound, he can run the floor and he normally gets the assignment of guarding the other team’s top offensive player.

Victor Payne, whose father helped lead Central Connecticu­t to the NCAA tournament, is the top player on one of the top teams in the Shoreline Conference. And the good news is — and bad news for the rest of the league — is he is only going to get better.

“If you take a look back at some of the league’s top players over the last few years they all have been excellent all-around basketball players. What separates Victor among these players is his athleticis­m,” Morgan coach Frank Rossi said. “Offensivel­y he causes a ton of matchup problems for a lot of teams. If you try to match his size and length with a bigger player, he’ll force you out to the perimeter where he can look to take you off the dribble or shoot the 3. If you try to match his speed with a smaller guard, he can take you inside and play around the rim.”

Payne, who turned 17 last month, will tell you all of the things he needs to work on: be more consistent on his jump shot, find different ways to score, do an even better job of creating for others than he already does.

“If (teams) double me, I can find the open person pretty quick with a skip pass. I’m unselfish,” Payne said. “I know I need to shoot more. When we get into the state tournament, if I don’t shoot more, we won’t do as well. (His teammates) feed off

 ?? ?? Pete Paguaga/Hearst Connecticu­t Media Cromwell's Victor Payne goes up for a shot against Morgan.
Pete Paguaga/Hearst Connecticu­t Media Cromwell's Victor Payne goes up for a shot against Morgan.

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