Basketball: Payton makes big splash on USA basketball team

UL point guard Elfrid Payton, with coach Billy Donovan in the background here, made a great first impression on the national scene in helping the USA U19 basketball team win the FIBA gold medal. / Courtesy USA Basketball

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, July 17, 2013

If the basketball world didn’t know who UL junior point guard Elfrid Payton was before this summer, it certainly does now.

Payton’s odyssey that began as a last-minute addition to the Sports Reach Christian ministry team that played seven exhibition games in China somehow was transformed into trying out for the USA’s U19 national team. Upon making that team in Colorado Springs, Colo. initially as a long-shot candidate, Payton then played a key role in leading the USA squad to a 9-0 gold medal showing in Prague, Czech Republic.

“He absolutely took a huge first step in that process (of being NBA prospect),” UL coach Bob Marlin said.

Performing well in front of some of the top coaches in college basketball such as U19 head coach Billy Donovan of Florida, or USA committee members Jim Boeheim of Syracuse or Washington’s Lorenzo Romar, not to mention USA Basketball’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, certainly got his name mentioned in some exclusive circles.

“Billy really liked him,” said Marlin, who also revealed that Boeheim told him that Payton “had what it takes” but just needs to shoot the ball better.

Marlin said Donovan told Payton that his best opportunity at a potential NBA career was to “take the Ragin’ Cajuns to the next level.”

Above all, Payton learned a lot about himself and his place in the world of basketball with his trips to China and the Czech Republic during a short summer break.

“Yes, I have a little bit more confidence,” Payton said. “Just the fact that I can play alongside guys like that and contribute with those type of players on my team helps.”

But while the Gretna native made a huge splash that could potentially pay big dividends in the future, he refuses to allow those daydreams to impact his current focus.

“Yes (opened some eyes), but I’m going to cross that road when I get there,” Payton said. “Right now, the goal is to win the Sun Belt Championship. That’s my focus right now.

“I’m extremely excited about the season. I’m so anxious to get the season started.”

In addition to trips to China and the Czech Republic, Payton will be joining his UL teammates on yet another trip overseas this time to Spain for a three-city tour in August.

Some are concerned that this frantic offseason will result in a weary Elfrid Payton down the stretch in the Cajuns’ upcoming season.

“I know I need some rest,” Payton said. “I just have to be smart about it. (UL trainer) B.J. (Duplantis) does a good job of telling me when I need to be off my feet.”

Earlier this summer Marlin suggested that his coaches will try to keep Payton from doing extra work after practice, at least early in the season.

A motivated Payton ready to work hard delivered a sly grin upon hearing that plan.

“I don’t think they’re going to be successful at that,” Payton laughed.

While he’s definitely looking forward to playing for the Cajuns again, Payton relished the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue.

“I wasn’t surprised at all (at blowout wins),” Payton said. “We were 12 deep. Everybody was good. We pressured teams and just wore them down. We took their will away.”

The 9-0 record with few competitive games was a direct result of the team of standouts playing together.

“There weren’t any egos,” Payton said. “Everybody was versatile. It was all about winning. Nobody was worried about who scored the most points or who got the most rebounds or who got the most assists.”

For many of the players on the team, though, it wasn’t a big surprise that they were selected out of 24 candidates to make the final 12. Many entered the tryout process with hot-shot reputations already.

Payton’s road was a little different.

Realizing his potential and knowing his character, Marlin’s staff tried to get Payton in one of the big elite point guard camps, but were unsuccessful. Then Marlin said that one day it hit him that trying to make the U19 national team might be his best chance at both exposure and extra training.

It was fairly late in the process, but a call to Billy Donovan and USA Basketball’s subsequent research on Payton paid off in an invitation.

Marlin said that Donovan revealed to him that Payton was in the final eight the day before the cuts to 16 and 12 were made, although he never told Payton.

As fate would have it, Payton’s trip to China paid off, as Marlin explained, because already having a passport in hand from that first trip enhanced USA Basketball’s ability to offer him a tryout.

Payton may have had to play catch-up on the court, but he was certainly more prepared than many of his teammates when it came to eating abroad. Payton had struggled mightily with the cuisine in China.

“The food in Prague was definitely a lot better than China,” Payton said. “The Prague food wasn’t all that good either, but it was better than China. Some of the guys didn’t eat at all (in Prague). I told them, ‘Y a’ll don’t know how good y’all got it right now compared to China.”

Now that Payton has made a name for himself, perhaps he won’t be such a long shot going into future USA Basketball tryout sessions.

“I’d definitely do it again,” Payton said. “If Mr. (Sean) Ford (men’s national team director) wants me, I would definitely love to help win another gold medal for our country.”