Zan Payne

Position:
Guard/Forward
Height:
6-5
Weight:
230
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Lexington, Ky.
Prev School:
Kentucky
High School:
Lexington Catholic HS

Sixth-Year Senior in 2023-24

Appeared in 22 contests for UofL, making two starts
Tallied a career-high six points and six rebounds, making the first two 3-pointers of his career against Virginia Tech on March 5
Averaged 0.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game
Averaged 7.5 minutes per contest

Graduate Senior Year in 2022-23

• Made 23 total appearances, tallying five points and 14 rebounds
• Scored three points against Texas Tech on Nov. 22 with a basket and a free throw
• Grabbed three rebounds in a career-high nine minutes at Pitt on Feb. 7
• Named to 2023 NABC Honors Court and 2022-23 ACC All-Academic Team

Before Louisville

• Transfer from the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of the team for the last four seasons.
• The son of UofL head coach Kenny Payne, Zan earned an undergraduate degree in communication at Kentucky in August of 2021 and was pursuing an undergraduate certificate in business and economics when he transferred to UofL.
• A three-time member of the Southeastern Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll, Payne played three seasons and 11 career games with the Wildcats (2019-22) after redshirting his freshman year of 2018-19 while recovering from a knee injury he suffered late in his high school career.
• As a redshirt junior in 2021-22, Payne saw action in nine games, totaling eight points, two rebounds and a steal while connecting on a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. He scored a career-high-tying four points and added a steal against Mount St. Mary’s.
• Member of the Southeastern Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll as a redshirt sophomore when he appeared in two games in 2020-21. He scored his first career points and added two rebounds in three minutes of action in the regular-season finale vs. South Carolina. He did not play as redshirt freshman, beginning to practice with the team in January 2020 after he had continued to rehab from a high school knee injury.
• Had a successful high school career at Lexington (Ky.) Catholic High School, where he averaged 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior before a knee injury in February prematurely ended his high school career. He was a three-year starter and scored 1,282 points, ranking 14th in school history. He also collected 934 career rebounds to finish as Lexington Catholic's fourth all-time rebounder.

Personal

• Born March 23, 2000… Son of Michelle and Kenny Payne … Has one sibling: Alexis … Pursuing a post baccalaureate as a graduate.
• Personal goal at UofL is to “become a better player, be a good teammate and show people I belong.”
• Chose to attend UofL because “it’s a great school to become a better person, learn, grow for life and be put around great people.”
• The best thing about being a Cardinal to him is “being around a great group of coaches and teammates.”
• Enjoys playing video games in his spare time.
• Few people know this, but he loves to go to the movies.
• The basketball player he most admires is LeBron James.
• If you walked into his dorm room, the first thing you would notice is his shoes.
• Best athlete he’s ever faced is PJ Washington.
• He’d most like to meet Steph Curry.
• When he played basketball as a kid, he always pretended he was LeBron James.
• His father had the greatest influence on his basketball career.
• He’s most proud of graduating college and getting his degree.
• He wears the No. 23 because he was born on the 23^rd of March.

Favorites

NBA team: Los Angeles Lakers
Athlete, other than basketball: Tom Brady
Movie: Avengers
Actor: Denzel Washington
TV Show: Outer Banks
Website: YouTube
Class at UofL: Computer Information Systems
Comedian: Kevin Hart
Musical Artist: Lil Tecca
Food: Chipotle
Midnight Snack: Fruit snacks
Vacation spot: Hawaii
Twitter follow: @Ballislife
Instagram follow: @espn