Busting Brackets
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Sun Belt Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose

Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia State Panthers bench surrounds Panthers guard R.J. Hunter (22) after their victory over the Baylor Bears in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena.Georgia State defeated Baylor 57-56 on Hunter's three point basket with 2.8 second left in the game. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia State Panthers bench surrounds Panthers guard R.J. Hunter (22) after their victory over the Baylor Bears in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena.Georgia State defeated Baylor 57-56 on Hunter's three point basket with 2.8 second left in the game. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mississippi Rebels guard Jarvis Summers (32) defends against Louisiana-Lafeyette Ragin’ Cajuns guard Elfrid Payton Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi Rebels guard Jarvis Summers (32) defends against Louisiana-Lafeyette Ragin’ Cajuns guard Elfrid Payton Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Elfrid Payton

A 6’3 point guard from Gretna, Louisiana, Payton had himself quite the rider in Lafayette playing ball for Louisiana. He originally joined the Ragin’ Cajuns way back in 2011, meaning we aren’t really looking at his underclassman seasons in today’s piece. Luckily, Payton’s junior season was a legendary effort both for his own profile and for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Payton averaged 19.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, leading Louisiana to a 23-win campaign. Perhaps his finest effort came in early January as he dropped 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists on Louisiana-Monroe for the only triple-double of his career. Not only was he a great scorer and ball distributor but he led the Ragin’ Cajuns to the Sun Belt Tournament title, scoring 19 in the title game win over Georgia State in overtime. His career would end in the 2014 NCAA Tournament with 24 points against Creighton.

For that junior season, Payton was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year while leading the league in points, assists, steals, and free throws. He clearly played a major role on both sides of the ball and helped Louisiana to a breakout postseason performance. Payton wouldn’t stick around for his senior season with the Ragin’ Cajuns and was drafted 10 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.