Fast-rising point guard Payton Dunbar commits to Virginia Cavaliers

Fast-rising prospect Payton Dunbar of Ripplemead (Virginia) Jefferson Christian Academy committed to Virginia, she told On3. 

Dunbar recently reclassified to the Class of 2024, so she can redshirt her first season in college. She announced her top six programs last week, which included Michigan, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, Rutgers and Providence. 

“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.”

Everyone expected Dunbar to become a Hokie, so she sensed that the news of her commitment would be a shock for some people. But she knows that UVA feels like home. 

“Going on that visit and being with the team, I’ve never meshed so well with a group of girls,” Dunbar said. “There’s another girl coming in [Kamryn Kitchen] who’s redshirting as well and we’re very similar personalities. We’re both strong believers in the team and the environment matches me perfectly. UVA is on an uphill trajectory and I think we may be hanging some banners here soon.”

Payton Dunbar found right fit at Virginia

Finding a place that fit her play style and supported her decision to redshirt was a key priority for Payton Dunbar – and Virginia embraced her with open arms. 

“Coach CJ [Jones} recruited me hard and didn’t pressure me to redshirt. He just said ‘Whenever you want to come, come,'” Dunbar said. “A lot of schools pressured me to come this year and play – not redshirt. There was a lot of pressure… he was very gracious, saying ‘We just want you whenever you can come here.’ I could really tell that the entire coaching staff wanted me there, and I match their culture.” 

Although she won’t be on the court next season, Dunbar will continue to improve her game so that she’s ready to go when her name is called. 

“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.”