Fast-rising guard Payton Dunbar talks top 6 schools ahead of commitment

Fast-rising prospect Payton Dunbar of Ripplemead (Virginia) Jefferson Christian Academy recently reclassified to the Class of 2024 so she can redshirt her first season in college. She also announced her top six programs on Wednesday and a commitment is right around the corner. 

Her top six include Michigan, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, Rutgers and Providence. 

“This year, I kind of blew up in April, got offers that I wanted and found my home,” Dunbar told On3. “ I just thought that going to college this year to redshirt was just the best idea for me.”

Dunbar wants to find a school that has people she connects with and fits her playing style well. 

“I’m a pretty versatile player,” Dunbar said. “I play 1 through 3. I was always smaller than everybody else, so I was always a point guard. But whenever I shot up to 5-foot-11, everybody wanted me at a wing. I still kept that point guard IQ. I really play positionless. Being able to keep a point guard IQ at all positions is important to me.” 

She went from having a quiet recruitment to her phone blowing up almost instantly. It was overwhelming, but the six schools that she was highly considering stood out amongst the chaos. 

Michigan

“They were my first big offer. That’s the thing that kind of fired off my recruitment was when I got offered by Michigan. They were kind of like the first Power 4 to believe in me. I went on an official visit there and it was great. I really bonded with the team and they’re on track to win a Final Four. They have the pieces. They’re a very good team and the staff is great. Coach [Kim Barnes] Arico has been there for a long time, and she’s an amazing, amazing coach for sure.”

Virginia Tech

“I’ve grown up a Hokie. I live 30 minutes from Virginia Tech. So whenever they offered me, I knew I had to go on a visit there. I love Coach Duffy. She’s great and she’s new. I think that she’s gonna do good things at Tech. I’m very excited to see what’s in store. She’s a great coach. I love Virginia Tech.”

Wake Forest

“I love that coaching staff. Their style of basketball fits me perfectly. Honestly, their motion offense is great, and I think their trajectory is good – like they’ve been last in the ACC for years now but I think that this coaching staff is very good, and I think that program is really gonna turn around.”

Providence

“Oh, my goodness, I love Coach Erin [Batth]. She’s amazing. She’s like a mom and she’s so smart, too. She knows basketball, and I just love that entire coaching staff.”

Rutgers

“I love that coaching staff too. For me, the entire recruitment process was about finding the right people for me. At Rutgers, they really wanted me. I felt super wanted at Rutgers, and that entire coaching staff poured a lot into me. I really, really love them.”

Virginia

“I’ve always been a Hokies fan, so that was kind of hard to go on a visit there. But yeah, for Virginia, it’s the same thing with the people, Coach CJ [Jones], Coach Amaka [Agugua-Hamilton], Coach Tori [Jankoska] – they’re amazing. I love them. It was just about the people there. I’ve got to play with some of their players at a training session before and I think they’re really cool. It was really awesome.”