Payne to transfer from Iowa

“What’s new? It’s me,” Payne said with a rueful laugh on the phone Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday night, the former Burlington Central and Schaumburg star made public his decision to transfer from Iowa. The school granted his request to be released from his scholarship Tuesday morning.

So, the 6-foot-1 guard is looking for a new home.

Again.

“I’m really open to whatever is out there right now,” said Payne, who started all 32 games as a freshman but was a medical redshirt this past season. “My phone has been blowing up. I forgot how this works and I didn’t think I would be doing it again.”

Payne verbally committed to DePaul when he was in the eighth grade but decommitted before his senior year as it became clear Jerry Wainwright’s days in charge of the program were numbered. He signed a letter of intent with Alabama but was released from that commiment after head coach Mark Gottfried departed under pressure.

Payne ultimately signed with Iowa to play for Todd Lickliter. Payne had 122 assists in 32 games as a freshman, but Lickliter was fired after a 10-22 finish and three losing seasons and was replaced by Siena coach Fran McCaffery.

“I wanted to play for coach Lick and his coaching staff, but when he got let go I was open-minded to give this a try,” said Payne, who started all 37 games he played at Iowa and averaged 8 points. “It just didn’t work out, which happens with coaching changes all the time.”

Payne played five games last season but suffered a torn oblique muscle and found he also had a sports hernia injury. Surgery ended his season and he said halfway through it he started talking to his dad Kent and AAU coach Mike Weinstein about a possible change.

“I had to do it at the right time,” said Payne, who has been playing again for a month and said he is back to 100 percent. “I didn’t want to be the guy who skips out on the team in the middle of the year.”

Payne said a couple of weeks ago he sat down with McCaffery to talk about his future in the program.

“Things didn’t add up to what I thought they would be and I had to do what was best for me and look out for my future,” Payne said. “I wish the guys nothing but the best and the same with coach McCaffery and his staff.”

McCaffery issued a statement on Payne’s decision Tuesday.

“We appreciate Cully’s hard work and contributions to the Iowa basketball program the last two years,” McCaffery said. “We are thankful for Cully that he has been able to make a full recovery from his injury and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

It didn’t take long for that direction to start taking shape. Payne said he and Weinstein have already heard from close to 20 schools.

One of the coaches Payne already talked to is Loyola’s Porter Moser, whose hiring at the school was officially announced Tuesday.

“As a Chicago kid, one thing I would love is to get back in the city,” Payne said. “Especially at a school like Loyola, where they can get it going.

“(Moser) has a passion for hoops and I haven’t seen a passion like that guy has in a long time.”

Another possibility Payne mentioned was UIC, where Howard Moore just finished his first season as head coach. Per NCAA rules, Payne would also have to sit out next season as a transfer to another Division I school and would have two years of eligibility left.

He hopes the next stop is a happy one on what has been a wild ride.

“I’m used to crazy stuff happening in my basketball career,” Payne said.