A Payne-filled life

Schaumburg's Cully Payne an Fenwick's Katlyn Payne have basketball in their genes. Their dad, Kent, and mom, Sherry, were standout players at Schaumburg.
(Rob Hart (left), Brian Valentin/For the Sun-Times)

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Cully and Katlyn Payne are one of basketball's most talented brother-sister duos since Reggie and Cheryl Miller. They have impeccable bloodlines. Their father, Kent, is the all-time single-game and single-season scoring leader at Schaumburg and once played professionally overseas. Their mother, Sherry, was an All-Stater at Schaumburg and played at DePaul.

Is there a sibling rivalry? Katlyn: Yes. I always wanted to be better than him. It's what got me to the level I'm at today. He pushes me harder and harder. We play one-on-one in the driveway two or three times a week. I only won once, but it's my claim to fame. My challenge is to be compared to my brother. Cully: To a point. We throw it out: Who's better than who? I must have had a broken thumb when she beat me. It was some kind of fluke.

Heroes? K: My grandpa Payne, who had ALS for 17 years and never complained. His determination and strength has pulled me to what I have become today as a person and basketball player. C: Grandpa Jim Payne. He's one of the biggest influences in my life. He wasn't able to talk or move, but when things got hard for me, I looked back at him and he provided great motivation.

When did you realize you had a talent for basketball? K: In eighth grade, high schools recruited me and colleges were looking at me, telling me I had talent and potential. I saw basketball was my game, what I wanted to do with my life. C: I was always the little guy running around the gym, playing with college kids when my dad coached at Aurora Central and St. Edward. I was in sixth grade when I sensed I was better than kids my own age.

How about college recruiting? K: I haven't committed. I'm interested in Creighton, Drake, St. Joseph's (Pa.) and Arizona. I would like to hear from southern schools. I want to see what schools have to offer. I want to major in law. I want to be a lawyer. C: I committed to DePaul as an eighth-grader. But DePaul wasn't the best fit for me. Then I committed to Alabama. I liked coach Mark Gottfried. My AAU coach, Mike Weinstein of the Rising Stars, gave me good advice. It's a tough process for an 18-year-old, a lot of pressure, especially when big schools call. If I had to do it over, I don't think I'd commit so early.

How good is your team? K: We have great potential. Tricia Liston is a great player. Anne Mullen, a transfer from Hinsdale Central, is a good point guard. And Colleen Forkin is a good shooter. I think we're better than last year's team, which lost to Bolingbrook in the supersectional. C: We can be really good. We have kids who play hard, make plays when we need them and play defense. We can go Downstate.

How do you describe your style of play? K: Very physical. I like contact. I like to drive the lane and draw contact, get a foul. It's fun to knock someone down in the lane. When I draw contact, it's a rush if they fall down. C: I'm a true point guard. For my high school team, I look to score, which is what we need to do to win - and I'm all about winning. One of my strengths is court vision and my ability to find people. I know when a guy needs the ball and where he needs it.

What are your personal goals for this season? K: I was first-team All-State at St. Edward as a freshman. I would love to be All-State again this year. I would like to be Miss Basketball. C: My only goal is to win state, whatever it takes from me to do it. Mr. Basketball would be great. But it isn't my No. 1 goal right now.

What superstitions do you have? K: Before every game, I write "Love Papa'' on my shoes because of grandpa Payne. I ask him to help me. C: I eat the same thing before every game. I wear the same shoes and socks. I'm real superstitious.

What don't your friends know about you? K: I like "Hannah Montana.'' C: They don't know how hard I actually work and how focused I get before a game. If we play Tuesday, after Monday's practice, I won't leave my house or talk to people. My girlfriend, Katie Quilico, understands that.

Have you ever double-dated? K: No. I have dated his friends. But we've never gone out together. No way. It would be too awkward. I can't imagine going together. C: No. We would never double-date. I would embarrass her a lot. I'd tell old stories about her.

Which one is a neat freak? K: Our younger brother, Quinten. Cully and I are terrible with cleaning up. Our rooms are a mess each week. But I'm the best dresser. Cully thinks he looks good in Michael Jordan sweats but not as good as me in my jeans. C: Katlyn doesn't do anything around the house. Quinten is a neat freak. He always has his stuff in a certain place, folded the right way, washed the same way.

What irritates you about your sibling? K: When I'm watching television and he turns to "SportsCenter'' and refuses to change back. A can't-miss show for me is "One Tree Hill.'' I can't turn it off. C: I can write a paper on this one. What she does that drives me crazy is I will be doing homework, and she'll start talking or telling a story. When I like to work out, I don't like anyone to talk. It's a serious thing to me.

If you had a class in basketball, who would you want to teach it? K: My dad taught me everything I know about basketball. He's the biggest influence on my career. He taught me and Cully how to play the game. C: Two people, the ones who taught me the most, my dad and coach [Bob] Williams. Coach and I spend lots of time watching films after practice. He made me so much better since I came to Schaumburg.