Elfrid Payton

Photo by: Brad Kemp

Photo by: Nick Ross

Photo by: Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball

Position:
G
Ht./Wt.:
6-3 / 170
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Gretna, La.
High School:
John Ehret

Elfrid Payton has developed into one of the most versatile players in the country. The catalyst for the Cajuns as the starting point guard, he is responsible for getting the rest of the players involved offensively. His competitiveness and drive serve as a positive example for the young Cajuns to follow. He is adept at getting to the basket off the dribble while his improved shooting range have made him an even tougher player to defend.

2013 SUMMER
•   Voted a team tri-captain for the 2013-14 season.
•   Started all nine games for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championship, helping team to the gold medal.
•   Averaged 6.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals, shooting .575 from the field (23-40) and .900 from the line (9-10).
•   Was one of 26 players that took part in the tryouts, being one of the final two players to be invited.
•   Took part in an seven-game goodwill tour of China and the Far East with Reach USA, leading the team in scoring (21.7 ppg) and helping team to a 4-2-1 record.
•   Posted five games of 20 or more points, adding 7.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.0 steals a game while shooting .533 from the field (65-122) and .700 from the line (21-30).
•   Averaged 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 3.5 steals during the tour of Spain, shooting .543 from the field (19-33).

2012-13 (Sophomore)
•   First team NABC All-District, first team All-Sun Belt and second team All-Louisiana by the LSWA.
•   Recipient of the Beryl Shipley Leadership Award, the Academic Achievement Award and team MVP.
•   Was the only player in the country to average 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals.
•   Led the SBC in assists (5.5) and steals (80), ranking 12th nationally in steals and 38th in assists.
•   Was second in the SBC in minutes played (35.5), third in scoring (15.9 ppg), fifth in asssist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) and ninth in field goal percentage (.475).
•   Moved into third on the Louisiana single season list with 80 steals and his 181 assists were fourth. He ranks 19th with 117 career steals.
•   Tallied 20 points with seven rebounds and seven assists in SBC Championship opening round win over North Texas (3/8/13).
•   Named Sun Belt Player of the Week on Feb. 25 after averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals against Troy and WKU.
•   Exploded for a career-high 31 points vs. WKU (2/23/13), setting a school record for a Sun Belt game by attempting 19 free throws.
•   Scored 16 points vs. Florida Atlantic (2/16/13), hitting the game-winning shot with 5.2 seconds left.
•   Missed a triple-double by one rebound at FIU (1/5/13), scoring 13 points with a career-high 10 assists and nine rebounds.
•   Had 23 points at Florida Atlantic (1/3/13), going 10-for-14 from the field.
•   Recorded his second straight double-double, scoring 17 points with a career-high 11 rebounds and five steals vs. Lamar (12/11/12).
•   Had his first career double-double, scoring 17 points with 10 rebounds at McNeese State (12/8/12).
•   Had 20 points at Michigan State, making a career-high seven steals.

2011-12 (FRESHMAN)
•   One of the top reserves on the team, seeing action in all 32 games with 11 starts.
•   Led the team and ranked eighth in the Sun Belt with 97 assists (3.0 apg).
•   Came off the bench in the first three games, recording 13 points against North Dakota State (11/12/11) and 14 at San Francisco (11/13/11).
•   Started vs. Houston Baptist (11/18/11), the first of eight consecutive starts.
•   Tallied 12 points, including an eight-for-eight effort from the line vs. McNeese State (Dec. 1).
•   Averaged 13.3 points over a three-game span late in the year, sandwiching 10 points at ULM (Jan.28) and 11 at Troy (Feb. 4) around a career-high 20 point effort vs. Denver (Feb. 2).
•   Narrowly missed a triple-double vs. North Texas in the Sun Belt Championship (March 4), scoring 13 points, with eight rebounds and nine assists.

HIGH SCHOOL
•   First team all-state choice as a senior at John Ehret High, playing for coach Al Collins.
•   Averaged 12.8 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 steals as a senior to earn district MVP honors.
•   Also named to the Times-Picayune All-Metro team for large schools after helping team to a 30-4 record, advancing to the Top 28.
•   Closed career with a game-high 23 points against Scotlandville in the Class 5A state semifinals in the Cajundome.

PERSONAL
Born Feb. 22, 1994 in Gretna, La. . . . son of Elfrid, Sr. and Danielle Payton. . . is the second of six children, having five sisters (Courtney, Ashley, Shamyra, Erin & Brianna). . . general studies major.