DePaul Cuts Cully Payne Loose

[tornado]

after locking in on the kid when he was still an 8th grader, now Depaul has chosen "by agreement" to cut Payne loose from his commitment, and Payne is free to look elsewhere.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/cullypayne.html

This comes as little surprise, as Payne has dropped significantly in the rankings of late, and DePaul is probably looking at other PG options.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/2009rankings.html

(dropped to #19 in Illinois Class of 2009)

He will end up at a mid-major as some have predicted for several years!

[tornado]

A new premium article just up doesn't add too much.....

http://depaul.scout.com/2/759106.html

"Class of 2009 Schaumburg High guard Cully Payne has decided to reopen his recruitment to pursue other opportunities. Payne first committed to DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright prior to his freshman year at Burlington Central...."

[tornado]

I was just looking back and we don't even have threads that go back to 2004 & 2005, but does anyone else recall when Cully Payne was in 8th grade - he was offered and committed to DePaul?
At that time, some listed Payne among the top players in his class - Top 10..

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-04-23/sports/0504230119_1_chris-payne-sophomore-cubs

Even later - in HS - several still had Payne ranked as Top 100 nationally (#100)

http://www.hoopscooponline.com/members/classof2009-fallof2006.asp

then Payne successively committed & decommitted from DePaul, then Alabama, then Iowa, now Loyola....but as I read tonite's box score - I am left wondering what happened....

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201301110316

[wily coyote]

I saw Payne play at the Pekin HT his Freshmen year and he had committed to DePaul by then. Seems to me he did so in his 8th grade year but not totally sure. I thought he was pretty good for a Freshmen but didn't think he was outstanding. At least not to commit to to a school like Depaul. IMO DePaul and Iowa were way over his head. More of a mid- major.

[Bravesfan]

I saw Payne play at the Pekin HT his Freshmen year and he had committed to DePaul by then. Seems to me he did so in his 8th grade year but not totally sure. I thought he was pretty good for a Freshmen but didn't think he was outstanding. At least not to commit to to a school like Depaul. IMO DePaul and Iowa were way over his head. More of a mid- major.

I hate to say it, but DePaul is not much higher than an average mid-major team. I don't think there is any guarantee he would shine on a lower level team, but maybe he could flourish under the right system and coach somewhere.

[doug shank's crossover]

DePaul is a middling mid-major. Nothing more. As for Payne...Eastern Illinois could use the help.

[tornado]

Cully Payne's name has been discussed for longer than any college player in history -- he's been a topic since he was in 8th grade and with all the intervening years, transferring, and redshirts - you'd think he'd certainly be done playing by now..but..

He's still just a junior - he'll be back again next year!!!

[doug shank's crossover]

Cully Payne's name has been discussed for longer than any college player in history -- he's been a topic since he was in 8th grade and with all the intervening years, transferring, and redshirts - you'd think he'd certainly be done playing by now..but..

He's still just a junior - he'll be back again next year!!!

Wow! Seems like we've been talking about him forever! Oh, and Mo could use him too.

[SFP]

All this bashing of DePaul. The difference is DePaul is in a BCS conference with a huge upside. I can't think of another program in this country with a bigger upside. They should be recruiting better players if they are to reach their potential plain and simple.

As many have said on this site, signing kids is a crap shot and the younger they are the bigger the odds that they will not work out.

[doug shank's crossover]

All this bashing of DePaul. The difference is DePaul is in a BCS conference with a huge upside. I can't think of another program in this country with a bigger upside. They should be recruiting better players if they are to reach their potential plain and simple.

As many have said on this site, signing kids is a crap shot and the younger they are the bigger the odds that they will not work out.

Not "bashing" DePaul, only stating fact. DePaul is a mid-major school in a high major conference. They will always struggle recruiting against others in the BigE. It was a revenue grab by the university.