MIAMI– FIU men's basketball head coach Joey Cantens has added another familiar face to his inaugural FIU roster, announcing the signing of 6'8 forward Jaylin Payne (Landover, Md.), who played for him at DSC in 2024-25.

Payne comes to FIU by way of Longwood, where he appeared in 29 games for the Lancers, starting one, averaging 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field. He recorded six points in his lone start of the season against Maine (Nov. 29) and had eight points and a season-high eight rebounds against Averett on Dec. 28. Late in the season, he had a strong performance in nine minutes, going 4-4 from the field, scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds at Presbyterian (Feb. 19).

In 2024-25, he played in 32 games for Cantens' Falcons, scoring 9.3 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. He recorded 12 double-figure scoring efforts and a pair of double-doubles, including a sensational effort of 22 points and 11 rebounds against no. 15 Tallahassee State, going 11-12 from the field (Nov. 27). Against another ranked team, Payne recorded 22 against no. 25 Monroe (Dec. 16). He was named Second Team All-Conference and Region 8 All-Tournament Team during the season.

Payne spent the 2023-24 season, his freshman year, at Blinn College. He attended Eleanor Roosevelt HS in Greenbelt, Md., just outside of Washington, DC and his hometown of Landover.

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