MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Justin Payne, a high-scoring guard from Athens, Ga., has transferred in to join the Men's Basketball program at Morehead State.
Payne scored more than 700 points in two seasons at Young Harris (Ga.) and helped the Mountain Lions win the Conference Carolinas championship in 2025-26.
"We're very excited to announce Justin Payne as our first spring signee," said Head Coach
Jonathan Mattox. "Justin is a high character young man who can absolutely score the basketball. He's a winner, having won a region and state championship in high school, and a conference championship in college. Justin will be a valuable member of our program."
Payne helped guide North Oconee High School to the Georgia state title in 2023-24 as well as a regional championship. Payne was named All-State and twice earned All-Region before he began his collegiate career at Young Harris.
Payne erupted for 577 points this past season in helping YH claim the conference trophy. He also averaged more than 2.0 assists per game and hit better than 40 percent from the floor. Payne also nailed 80 three-pointers as YH finished 23-9 and 16-4 in Conference Carolinas. He scored in double digits in all but four of the lions' 32 games and had 16 games with 20 or more points. His high-water mark came on the road against King (Tenn.) when he scored a career-high 38.
Payne also was extremely efficient at the free throw line where he hit 86 percent in his two college seasons so far. He heads to Morehead State with 773 career collegiate points.
