Sophomore Guard Making The Most Of Her Second Chance At MDC
Anija Payne knows the importance of second chances.
In 2019, the five-foot-nine-inch guard was a star at Marian High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, averaging 12.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.7 steals after 19 games as a senior.
But after an altercation with a teammate, Payne was expelled from the school. Without basketball, she spiraled into a deep depression and considered giving up the sport.
However, after graduating from John Adams High School in South Bend that June, she got an opportunity to rehabilitate her career for the Lady Sharks at Miami Dade College.
“I had to realize that everyone goes through storms and God gives his toughest storm to his strongest soldiers,” Payne said. “It had to happen. I’m glad it happened because it made me [grow] into a better person.”
As a freshman at MDC, Payne averaged 9.3 rebounds and 5.2 points per game and was named to the Second Team All-Southern Conference. This season, Payne has improved her shooting range while keeping her gritty post defense for the Lady Sharks who are 2-2 on the season. Through four games, she is averaging 9.3 points and is ranked second in the state with 13.3 rebounds per game behind fellow Lady Shark Nazlah Morrow, who is averaging 16.5 rebounds.
“Anija is full of energy, passion, and focuses on the game on the court,” said Head Coach Susan Summons. “She is one of the motors and voices of this team. Off the court, she focuses on accomplishing her dreams.”
Payne, 20, was born and raised in South Bend, a small city in northern Indiana. She grew up around the game, watching her uncle and cousins play basketball at public parks in the area.
When she was 10, Payne joined the girl’s basketball team at Clay K-8 International Academy for three years before transferring to Marian. She played 91 games for the Knights varsity team, leading them to the regional semifinals in the 2017-18 season and earning the team’s MVP award as a sophomore.
In addition to high school basketball, Payne also played for two travel ball teams: the Sky Digg Elite—named after WNBA player Skylar Diggins-Smith—and Baylor Basketball.
Payne committed to MDC in May 2019 after Baylor Basketball recommended her to Summons during an AAU tournament.
“[Summons] just understood,” Payne said. “She didn’t just say: ‘That happened so I’m not interested in you anymore.’ It was like ‘things happen but make sure they don’t happen again.’”
Teammates and coaches describe her as hardworking, demanding and a player with relentless energy. Payne, a pre-nursing major on track to graduate from MDC this summer, is open to playing professionally, but aspires to be a physician assistant.
“No matter what Anija is doing or where she is, she just stands out,” Morrow said. “There is no way you can ignore her presence. She grabs your attention. She is an outstanding player and person.”
