MUNICIE, Ind - As a senior in high school, Payton Sparks was averaging a double-double and was the 24th best player in Indiana. This earned him a two-star ranking and an offer from the local Ball State Cardinals.
Since then, Sparks has made a name for himself in Worthen Arena. He has earned two MAC player of the weeks, averaged more than 12 points and earned an all-Mac second team selection. He has played in Muncie and Bloomington but hasn’t left his roots behind.
“It’s a great feeling, my family can come to the games, family friends, friends. It’s just a good feeling that I don’t have to go too far to play college basketball,” Sparks said.
He may have left Winchester Community High School four years ago, but the community and his high school coach Dustin Baldwin, haven’t left him behind.
“I think he means a lot. I think there is a lot of local people that go to Ball State games just to watch Payton,” Baldwin said. “They’re not necessarily a Ball State, but they’re a Payton fan and become Ball State fans because of that.”
Sparks has become one of the faces of the team since joining as a freshman and earning MAC freshman of the year. He has been consistent on the court, averaging 13.2 points a game in his three years at Ball State. This season is his 3rd year for the Cardinals after transferring out to Indiana his junior year.
He had a dip in production when he went to the Hoosiers, dropping from 13.3 points a game to 2.1 points a game. His minutes also dropped from 29.2 to 7.4 per game. Sparks transferred back to BSU after one season with IU.
“I feel at home still. They have taken me in with open arms. From there I have just been playing my butt off and I’m loving it,” Sparks said.
While Sparks has given a lot to the program over the years, his season and his legacy aren’t done yet. The Cardinals are still in the hunt for the MAC tournament and Sparks is in the hunt for a good finish to his season.
“It is a good feeling that you are etched into the history here at Ball State. I’m just grateful to be here,” Sparks said.
Contact Josiah Veen with comments at josiah.veen@bsu.edu.
