Photo by: Rob Goldberg
Payne Signs Professional Basketball Contract In Israel
August 31, 2016 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Former East Carolina women's basketball standout Jada Payne will continue her professional career playing for A.S. Ramat Hasharon Electra in Israel.
A Division I member of Liga Leumit and led by Head Coach Edny Dagan, Ramat Hasharon posted a 12-9 record en route to a fourth place finish out of eight teams in the league in 2015-16. A number of players under contract with WNBA teams use the offseason to compete overseas, including Israel, during its offseason.
The 2016-17 season in Israel will begin in October before playoffs commence in April.
"It's a huge opportunity for my career," Payne said. "I'll get great experience under my belt and continue to work as hard as I can toward my dream of playing in the WNBA."
An All-American Athletic Conference First Team selection in 2015 and 2016, Payne attended preseason training camp with the WNBA's Washington Mystics, an experience that bolstered her professional resume. Payne became the first player in program history to be invited to a training camp.
"It was a surreal experience," Payne said. "After all these years of hard work, getting there and seeing how pro athletes adjust to balancing their playing careers and daily lives opened my eyes. Hopefully that won't be my last chance, but I'm going to do whatever I can to get another one."
Payne concluded her four-year career with 2,029 total points, including 1,757 during her three seasons with the Pirates to put her in sole possession of No. 3 on the program's all-time scoring list. She recorded the highest free throw percentage in ECU history (.835) while making the second-most three-pointers (187) in program history. The Hickory, N.C., native was named an all-conference first team selection all three years at East Carolina and concluded her career shooting over 45 percent from the field while averaging 18.3 points and 7.1 rebounds.
A Division I member of Liga Leumit and led by Head Coach Edny Dagan, Ramat Hasharon posted a 12-9 record en route to a fourth place finish out of eight teams in the league in 2015-16. A number of players under contract with WNBA teams use the offseason to compete overseas, including Israel, during its offseason.
The 2016-17 season in Israel will begin in October before playoffs commence in April.
"It's a huge opportunity for my career," Payne said. "I'll get great experience under my belt and continue to work as hard as I can toward my dream of playing in the WNBA."
An All-American Athletic Conference First Team selection in 2015 and 2016, Payne attended preseason training camp with the WNBA's Washington Mystics, an experience that bolstered her professional resume. Payne became the first player in program history to be invited to a training camp.
"It was a surreal experience," Payne said. "After all these years of hard work, getting there and seeing how pro athletes adjust to balancing their playing careers and daily lives opened my eyes. Hopefully that won't be my last chance, but I'm going to do whatever I can to get another one."
Payne concluded her four-year career with 2,029 total points, including 1,757 during her three seasons with the Pirates to put her in sole possession of No. 3 on the program's all-time scoring list. She recorded the highest free throw percentage in ECU history (.835) while making the second-most three-pointers (187) in program history. The Hickory, N.C., native was named an all-conference first team selection all three years at East Carolina and concluded her career shooting over 45 percent from the field while averaging 18.3 points and 7.1 rebounds.
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