URBANA — Last June, Bloomington rising junior Chris Payton netted an offer from the Illinois men's basketball team.
In August, however, Payton verbally committed to a different local institution: Illinois State.
Fast forward to January, and the 6-foot-6 standout had decided to reopen his recruitment.
The Illini certainly noticed, with a member of Brad Underwood's coaching staff in attendance last Friday as Payton put up 19 points in a 96-73 Purple Raiders victory over host Urbana.
"Family talks, personal decisions. It was nothing to do with the program," Payton said when asked about breaking from the Redbirds.