Fred Payne’s Rise from Role Player to Star: Boston College’s Breakout Guard is Lighting Up the ACC
When Fred Payne stepped up to the mic at Boston College’s basketball media day back in October, he wasn’t shy about his offseason work. The redshirt sophomore guard made it clear: this year was going to be different.
“Last year I was coming in just trying to earn playing time,” Payne said. “I was watching film but I wasn’t as focused on it, I was just trying to play. This year I came in with the mindset that I knew I was going to play, so I watched film and worked on the things I needed to improve on.”
Safe to say, that mindset shift has paid off-and then some.
A Rocky Start, Then a Spark
Coming into the season, Payne was penciled in as a complementary piece alongside Donald Hand Jr.-a solid guard expected to play his role. But early on, it didn’t look like he’d even meet that bar.
In back-to-back games against FAU and The Citadel, Payne struggled, going just 4-of-18 from the field with five turnovers. He looked hesitant, unsure, and frankly overwhelmed.
Then came November 11th against Central Connecticut State. The Eagles lost, but something clicked for Payne.
He poured in 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, and followed it up with another 17-point game-this time in a win over Temple. From that point on, he didn’t look back.
Over BC’s first 12 games, Payne hit double figures nine times, averaging 12.5 points per game. He wasn’t just spotting up anymore-he was creating.
The catch-and-shoot guy from a year ago had added layers: pull-up midrange jumpers, off-the-dribble threes, floaters in the lane, and even high-flying dunks in transition. The confidence was real, and so was the production.
From Breakout to Bona Fide Star
Payne’s emergence was impressive. His ascension? That’s been something else entirely.
On December 28th, he dropped a career-high 22 points on Le Moyne. Two games later, he shattered that mark with 24 against NC State.
By then, it was clear-Payne wasn’t just a spark plug. He had become the guy for Boston College’s offense.
And he wasn’t slowing down. He followed up with back-to-back 20+ point outings against Louisville and Clemson. But the signature moment came on January 17th, in front of a packed house at Conte Forum, with a red-hot Syracuse team in town.
Payne delivered the game of his life-26 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and just one turnover in 44 minutes. BC pulled out an 81-73 overtime win, and Payne cemented himself as the engine behind the Eagles’ biggest victory of the season.
“He’s a professional bucket getter,” said Donald Hand Jr. after the game. “And he works at it too.”
That work has been on full display. In the four-game stretch from January 6th to January 17th, Payne averaged 23 points per game on 48% shooting, including a blistering 54% from beyond the arc. He turned the ball over just five times across those four games-an impressive stat considering his increased usage and responsibility as a primary ball handler.
Now averaging 15.2 points per game on the season, Payne has gone from an afterthought to an All-ACC caliber player. He’s not just scoring-he’s doing it efficiently, while shouldering a heavy offensive load and playing solid defense on the other end.
Looking Ahead: BC’s Top Priority
Payne’s breakout season has created a new kind of urgency for Boston College. A year ago, the program made a major investment in Donald Hand Jr. after his strong 2024-25 campaign. But while Hand hasn’t quite lived up to those expectations this season, Payne has already surpassed them-and he’s doing it with better shooting, better decision-making, and a growing leadership presence.
If Boston College wants to stay competitive in a stacked ACC, retaining Fred Payne has to be the top priority this offseason. No hesitation.
No second-guessing. The Eagles have found their star-now it’s about keeping him in maroon and gold.
Because make no mistake: Fred Payne isn’t just having a good season. He’s building something bigger. And if the last nine games are any indication, Boston College might just have a superstar on its hands.