Playing For Indiana A Dream Come True For Transfer Payton Sparks
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Nine-year-old Payton Sparks was glad his mom let him stay up late.
Because what happened that night in December of 2011 inspired Sparks to get to where he is today. In the most recent regular season game between Indiana and Kentucky, Christian Watford nailed a 3-point buzzer beater to stun No. 1 Kentucky, which has become an iconic moment in college basketball lore.
"Ever since then, I've been an IU fan," Sparks said. "Just everybody storming the court ... Just how big IU is and how the fans and people love IU."
Nearly 12 years later, the 6-foot-10, 258-pound Sparks is a junior and one of 12 scholarship players on the 2023-24 Indiana roster. But he didn't take a direct path to Bloomington.
Sparks' basketball career took off at Winchester Community High School in a small community east of Muncie, Ind., near the Ohio border. He was a double-double machine from his sophomore through senior year, earning small-school all-state honors in 2021. Sparks received a handful of Division I offers – but none at the Power 5 level – and he originally committed to Ball State, a quick 40-minute drive from home.
Sparks made an immediate impact at Ball State, winning MAC Freshman of the Year and being named to the Kyle Macy Freshman All-America Team. He was a model of consistency and efficiency, averaging over 13 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent across two seasons.
His biggest takeaway from his Ball State career?
"That I could play at the Division I level,” Sparks said. “I had a lot of people doubting me, and I still have a lot of people doubting me. But I know the kind of work I'm putting in, and I believe in myself."
Following both his freshman and sophomore years, Sparks entered the transfer portal. He loved his time at Ball State and still considers it home, but his goal was to play at the Power 5 level. It didn’t come to fruition until after his sophomore season, when Indiana coach Mike Woodson needed to replace front court veterans.
So when the opportunity to play for Indiana was on the table, he couldn’t pass it up. Sparks spent his sophomore season at Ball State under coach Michael Lewis, who played at Indiana from 1996-2000 under Bob Knight. Ball State will miss the two-time All-MAC center, but Sparks said Lewis was supportive throughout the process.
"He loved it,” Sparks said. “He told me just to enjoy it every day and work my butt off. He was behind my decision. He said he would do anything for me. Anywhere I wanted to go, he said he would help me get there. He's always going to be there for me, like he wasn't mad. He's happy for me."
Since announcing his decision to transfer to Indiana in March, Sparks has been one piece to the puzzle of replacing Trayce Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson, Jordan Geronimo and Logan Duncomb. Indiana also brought in transfers Kel’el Ware and Anthony Walker and freshman Mackenzie Mgbako to replenish the front court.
Sparks said the main adjustment from Ball State to Indiana is the increased intensity in everything from conditioning to weightlifting, practice and scrimmages. Working with Clif Marshall, Indiana’s director of athletic performance, Sparks tied the all-time NBA combine record of 27 reps on the 185-pound bench press.
And while he hasn’t suited up in a real game yet, that physicality has been felt. Sophomore forward Kaleb Banks said in July that no one has been able to stop 258-pound Sparks in the paint, which is why Woodson added him to the roster. Even in a limited role, Sparks' strength is needed in the physical Big Ten.
"It ain't like we brought him in to play big minutes,” Woodson said. “But we brought him in because he bangs. He gets after it, and that's what I like about him. I mean, I don't care who's on the floor, he rebounds, he hits you. He does all the little, dirty stuff that nobody wants to do. So I mean, that should help us in the long run I think."
Reflecting on the first half of his college years, Sparks is grateful for the rare opportunity he has. Wearing the cream and crimson is still a bit of a surreal feeling for Sparks, who’s embracing it day by day.
“I was smiling putting this jersey on today,” Sparks said. “It's not a game day, but still I'm excited."
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