The 6-foot-3, 165-pound senior forward led the Wildcats to a 27-0-1 record and the Class 4A state championship this past season. Payne tallied 54 goals and 11 assists, including two goals and an assist in New Hanover’s 3-0 win over Hough High in the state title game. He also scored all four goals in his team’s 4-2 victory over Cardinal Gibbons High in the state semifinals. The North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year, he is also a United Soccer Coaches All-American selection.
Payne has maintained a weighted 4.48 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at North Carolina State University this fall.
Payne has volunteered locally with his school’s Beta Club, and he has donated his time at a local adult day care service.
