OVC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

4. Cameron Payne

A 6’2 point guard from Bartlett, Tennessee, Payne was an underrated recruit who joined the Murray State program in 2013. He was a fantastic addition for Steve Prohm and would blossom into a star very quickly for the Racers. Payne was one of the OVC’s best players during his short time in the league, spending just two seasons in Murray before professional basketball came calling.

As a freshman, Payne started every game and averaged 16.8 points and 5.4 assists, leading the Racers to 23 wins and the OVC West title. He then played well in all five postseason games as the Racers took home the CIT championship. During his sophomore season, he’d average 20.2 points and 6.0 assists per game, guide Murray State on a 25-game winning streak that ended in an upset in the OVC Tournament, with Payne’s college career ending in the NIT.

The league leader in points, field goals, and assists, he was named OVC Player of the Year as a sophomore after winning Rookie of the Year honors the year before. It won’t shock you to learn that he was First Team All-OVC in both seasons and played a vital role for the Racers. While it remains a shame that Payne never played in the Big Dance, his strengths and skills were clear, as he was taken with the 14th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft.