Electrifying Athlete Chris Payton Jr. Joins Cobras
Payton Jr. arrives at Kilsyth following an outstanding collegiate career at Kent State and two years of professional experience in Europe, bringing explosive athleticism and scoring at the rim, along with the ability to facilitate and score off the bounce at a high level. The 6’8 big man starred in his senior season at Kent State, leading the team in rebounding (7.4rpg) and blocks (1.1bpg), while ranking second on the team in scoring (12.6ppg). In his junior season, Payton Jr. was just as impactful, shattering the single season school record for field goal percentage (73%), helping lead the Golden Flashes to an NCAA tournament berth in 2023.
The Illinois native since honed his craft in some of Europes top domestic competitions, playing in the top leagues in Greece, Hungary, Cyprus and Kosovo over the past two years, in addition to a stint in the Turkish TBL. During his time in Europe, Payton Jr. proved he’s able to match it with some of Europe’s top big men - no matter the size - while also expanding his game to become a weapon on the perimeter with his off the dribble game, passing, and shooting ability.
Payton Jr. is set to be one of the NBL1’s most electric players, with the high-flyer’s explosive scoring skillset, ability to protect the rim and rebound at a high level, and defensive versatility an ideal fit for the Cobras up-tempo, athletic brand of basketball.
