The following feature was written specifically for ULMAthletics.com by the ULM sports information office. Any use of the following text, partial or otherwise, must give credit to ULMAthletics.com and the ULM Sports Information Department.
Not all summers are about sleeping in and closing the books. ULMAthletics.com caught up with men's basketball player Jordan Payne to see what he has been doing this summer to get ready for another exciting season on the hardwood.
In ULM's first season of Sun Belt action, Payne played 32 contests, starting four, while averaging 24.7 minutes. Payne was at one point on of the top sixth-man in the nation in scoring per game and finished averaging 12.4 per outing. Payne was second on the squad with 60 made threes and shot 78.3 percent from the charity stripe.
ULMAthletics.com caught up with Payne to see what he has been doing this summer to get ready for another exciting season on the hardwood:
How is the summer going?
The summer has been pretty good. Mostly I have been spending a lot of time in class and the weight room.
What have you been focusing on this summer?
I have been trying to put on some weight and just improve my work ethic. My work ethic gets better and better every day and I am trying to focus on that.
What did you take for ULM's first season in the Sun Belt Conference?
We were good, but not good enough. Our season was a good one, but we are at the point now where we can't look back anymore. We can't look back and talk about how people didn't expect us to win. We have bigger and better things to look forward to.
What restaurant do you find yourself at the most this summer?
I am at the SUB mostly. I go to the grill every day. My favorite is a cheeseburger and fries. I also get a smoothie with a little protein.
What have you done to relax this summer?
I watch a lot of reality shows and chill with my family. My favorite reality show is Wild 'N Out with Nick Cannon on MTV.
How are summer classes going?
The classes are going good. I am taking a driver safety class and trying to get to a point where I can teach driver safety when I am finished playing. I want to teach and coach so the driver's education certification would help make me more versatile.
Take us through one of your typical days...
I wake up and go to class. Right after class I go eat and go back to the room and watch a little TV. Then I head right to weights and check in with Rob Williamson our trainer. After the weight room I head to the gym and workout on the court for about an hour. I will go to the SUB to eat again before heading back to my room or the library to do homework before going to sleep.
Have you had a chance to catch up with your teammates not in Monroe?
I talk to just about everyone every couple of days. I talked to Tony [Hooper], Afam [Nweke] and David Garrison last night. I also spoke with one of our former players, Darien Bynum.
What are you looking forward to this summer?
I am just trying to get better and better. Every day I just work to improve on my work ethic and to be a more consistent player as well as a person. I struggle with that but it is my main focus this summer.
Describe your relationship with coach Early...
I think right now it's at a point where I can joke around with him. We are having a very good summer.
