DEVOTED BASEBALL PLAYER EXCELS IN BASKETBALL.

Byline: Kathy Orton Special to the Daily News

Jerome Payton plays out of position. So far out of position, he isn't even competing on the right playing surface. Even though he is more at home on a baseball field, Payton spends most days on a basketball court.

Some may wonder why this talented shortstop isn't shagging ground balls year-round, until they see him pick off a pass and go in for a layup or use his incredible leaping ability to block a shot.

What impresses most people about the 6-foot, 170 pound sophomore guard for the Antelope Valley College men's basketball team is that despite devoting his life to one sport, baseball, he succeeds in another, basketball.

"I'm a baseball player," Payton said. "I play basketball. People ask me what my hobby is. I tell them basketball."

His senior year at Palmdale High School, Payton led the state in stolen bases. He was a first-team All-Southern Section selection twice and a second-team selection once. Three times he was selected All-Golden League.

After such a successful high school career, Payton had hoped to earn a baseball scholarship to a four-year college. But unable to achieve a qualifying score on the Scholastic Assessment Test, he enrolled at Antelope Valley College.

"He was a gift, I guess," Antelope Valley men's basketball coach Newton Chelette said. "I was told he had no interest in playing basketball out of high school. He wanted to play baseball."

But basketball prevented Payton from continuing his baseball career at the community college. The Marauders' success his freshman year - the basketball team finished 24-9 and advanced to the second round of the Southern Regional playoffs - caused him to miss the beginning of the baseball season.

When he finally joined the baseball team, the lineup was set. Payton became just another utility player on the squad.

Asked why he didn't just quit the basketball team to play baseball, Payton said: "I couldn't leave my teammates."

Payton didn't even start for the Marauders last year, but played well enough to earn first-team All-Foothill Conference honors. He averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals a game.

From sixth man to starter, Payton is the Marauders' leading scorer this season. Entering tonight's game against Rio Hondo, he averages 17.4 points per game. He is also the team's top shot blocker (16 blocks), even though he is the second shortest player on the team.

He is first in steals (43) and second in rebounds (103) and assists (66). Few things happen on the court that Payton is not a part of in some way. He was selected all-tournament in each of Antelope Valley's five tournaments, and was chosen Most Valuable Player of the Canyons tournament.

But for all his glamorous statistics, defense - hard-nosed, tenacious, in-your-jersey defense - is what he takes the most pride in.

"I grew up watching (Lakers defensive specialist) Michael Cooper," Payton said. "You never saw Cooper do anything on offense except shoot a three.

"You have got to love defense. It has to be a challenge. I don't need to score. I have other people on my team that can score. We have so many scorers on our team it's sickening."

His high school coach Garry Phelps believes Payton's love of defense came from a lack of offensive skills when he first started at the high school level. Although Payton had played basketball in junior high, he did not go out for the basketball team until his junior year in high school.

"When he first started playing, during the summer that first year, he wouldn't shoot the ball other than layups for anything," Phelps said. "He didn't have a very good shot. He always had great quickness and good anticipation of the ball. I think he decided, 'I'll use my quickness for defensive purposes.' He's just that type of player, always on the go."

That work ethic was learned early in life. Payton's father Andrew used sports to communicate with his two sons, Jerome and his older brother Tyrone.

"Jerome is an image of his father," Phelps said. "You couldn't ask for better parents. They are two of the nicest people you could ever meet."

Andrew Payton rarely misses one of Jerome's games. Baseball, basketball or football, Andrew is always in the stands. He never pushed him to play sports. He only wanted him to succeed at whatever he did.

"I play for him," Payton said. "I know he likes to see me play."

There are times Andrew sits and watches, shaking with nervous anxiety, worried about the game's outcome. But most of the time, he enjoys watching his son take pleasure in competing.

"I get a real treat out of watching him," Andrew said. "He makes me laugh. Sometimes, there will be an outlet pass to him, I will look at his face and he is grinning as he takes the ball to lay it up. He likes to have fun."

That on-court attitude belies a fierce competitiveness. Payton hates, really hates, to lose. After two years as a safety on the football team, he switched to basketball because he couldn't tolerate another 0-10 season.

"Losing is the worst thing in the world," Payton said.

His competitive nature comes from a tremendous drive and desire to be the best, according to Chelette. Those two attributes combined with a strong work ethic separate Payton from the average player.

"He's a person you can always count on in practice and in games," Chelette said. "You get 100 percent out of Jerome every day. He's a tremendous competitor. He doesn't like to lose."

Payton can often be found in Palmdale's gym, helping Phelps run practice or on the bench as an unofficial assistant coach during games. Coaching has been his lifelong dream. When he would watch the Lakers on television with his father and brother, he would imagine himself as the head coach.

"I'm going to be a black Pat Riley," Payton said.

Both his current and former coach agree that Payton would make a good coach. Two years ago, Payton coached Phelps' son.

"It was great," Phelps said. "He gets as excited coaching as he does on the floor when good things are happening. He could take over for me."

Chelette agreed: "He'd make a great coach. He likes kids. The kids just flock around him. He has a sincere interest in people. He's a good person."

Payton may continue to put off baseball as the basketball team and his career flourish this season. Antelope Valley is ranked No. 11 in the state and No. 6 in Southern California, while Payton is being recruited to play basketball by several schools.

"Baseball is still a great love of his, but basketball is up there," Phelps said. "Basketball is more than a hobby now."

CAPTION(S):

Photo Antelope Valley College guard and top scorer Jerome Payton throws a ball back into play during practice. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News