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SALT LAKE CITY - Geoff Payne from Westminster College is working out
with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association on Monday
morning. Payne was named the 2008-09 NAIA National Player of the Year
after leading the Griffins to the quarterfinals of the Buffalo
Funds-NAIA National Championships and a 30-5 overall record.
Monday is the fourth day of workouts held by the Jazz in preparation
for Thursday's draft. Utah holds the 20th pick of the first round along
with the 50th overall pick during the second round.
Payne, a 6-7 forward from Sandy, Utah, spent just one season with the
Griffins. He finished third nationally with his 65.2% field goal
percentage, and was 11th in scoring at 20.7 points per game. He was
recognized as the Frontier Conference Player of the Year and was named
to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA All-Tournament Team. Payne played one season
at Southern Utah University where he was named the Summit League
Newcomer of the Year. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at Snow
College.
