Payne attended Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, California, where as a senior in 2006–07, he averaged 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Citrus won back-to-back conference titles for the first time in school history and made a Sweet 16 appearance.
[1][3] In November 2011, Payne spent preseason with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League after being selected with the final pick in the D-League draft.
[4][5] After working as an intern with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball operations department during the 2011–12 NBA season, Payne signed to play in Australia in November 2012.
[6] He made professional debut in 2013 with the NW Tasmania Thunder in the South East Australian Basketball League.