Payton Verhulst

Position:
Guard
Height:
6-1
Class:
Senior
High School:
Bishop Miege High School
Prev School:
Louisville
Hometown:
De Soto, Kan.

CAREER
2025 Second Team All-SEC … 2024 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year … 2024 All-Big 12 First Team … 2024 WBCA All-America honoree … 2022 ACC All-Freshman Team (at Louisville).

SENIOR (2024-25)
Second Team All-SEC … SEC Academic Honor Roll selection … started all 35 games … averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. One of two players nationally to average at least 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in under 30 minutes per game. Eclipsed 1,000 career points on March 2 vs. Alabama in her 100th career game. Made 83 three-pointers, second in the SEC. Scored in double figures in 28 games with six 20-point outings. Led OU in scoring 15 times, assists 14 times, and was team leader in games with 5+ assists (10). Scored in double figures in 15 of final 16 games. Notable Games: vs. DePaul (Nov. 25): 18 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds; vs. No. 13 Duke (Nov. 27): 29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists (fourth career triple-double in OU history, one of two D-I players alongside Caitlin Clark with 25-point triple-double vs. ranked opponent); vs. Louisville (Dec. 4): 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; vs. Texas (Jan. 2): 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists; vs. Missouri (Jan. 16): career-high 38 points with six 3-pointers (fifth-most points in program history); at LSU (Jan. 30): 26 points, 7 rebounds; vs. Kentucky (Feb. 2): 11 points, 10 rebounds; vs. Ole Miss (Feb. 5): 19 points, 10 rebounds; vs. Alabama (March 2): 24 points; NCAA Tournament (3 games): averaged 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists.

JUNIOR (2023-24)
Big 12 Newcomer of the Year … All-Big 12 First Team selection … WBCA Region 3 All-America honoree … started all 32 games … averaged 12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game … only Division I player to average at least 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in under 30 minutes per game. Led OU with four double-doubles and finished second in Big 12 in assist/turnover ratio during league play (2.2). Led the team in scoring seven times, rebounding nine times, and assists ten times. Scored in double figures 19 times, including five 20-point efforts. Notable Games: vs. Oral Roberts (Nov. 12): career-high 32 points on 12 of 15 shooting (80%) with six rebounds, six assists, three blocks, two steals — only Division I player in 25+ years with 32+ points on 80% shooting, 6+ assists, and 3+ blocks; at Iowa State (Feb. 10): 25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals; vs. Iowa State in Big 12 semifinal (March 11): 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; vs. Baylor (Feb. 14): 16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks — most blocks under Baranczyk; vs. Oklahoma State (Feb. 24): 14 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists; at BYU (Jan. 3): 11 points, 11 rebounds; at Oklahoma State (Feb. 3): 10 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds.

SOPHOMORE (AT LOUISVILLE 2022-23)
Played in eight games for the Cardinals before transferring to Oklahoma midseason ... averaged 6.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game in 15.1 MPG ... in a win over Longwood (Nov. 25), posted career-high 16 points and season-high four rebounds and two assists ... logged eight points and two steals vs. Gonzaga (Nov. 19) ... graded as ESPN’s No. 35 transfer in the 2023-24 portal class.

FRESHMAN (AT LOUISVILLE 2021-22)
ACC All-Freshman selection … played in 32 games during Louisville’s run to the Final Four … averaged 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 40% from deep … ranked inside top 10 among ACC freshmen in points and assists per game … posted three double-digit scoring games in ACC play, including career-high 13 points vs. Duke (Jan. 30).

USA BASKETBALL
Named MVP of 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship … won gold medals with Team USA at 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup and 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship … invited to 2025 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team Trials … averaged 8.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists helping USA to gold at 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, including 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists vs. Taiwan … started all six games at 2019 USA U16 National Team, averaging 14.5 points and 2.8 rebounds … competed at 2019 USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championship (Blue Star 30 Stars), finishing fourth … participated in 2018 USA U17 World Cup Team trials.

HIGH SCHOOL
Consensus five-star prospect … ranked No. 12 in class by ESPN … ranked No. 8 by PASS … McDonald’s All-American … played in Jordan Brand Classic … finalist for 2021 USA Today National Female Athlete of the Year … named 2021 Kansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and overall Female Athlete of the Year … three-time Eastern Kansas League MVP, three-time first-team All-State Top 5 by The Capital-Journal, Gatorade Kansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year … 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith National High School Second-Team All-American … 2021 Kansas Player of the Year by MaxPreps … led Bishop Miege to 23-1 record and Kansas Class 4A state championship as a senior, averaging 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 steals, 3.6 assists, and 3.5 blocks … 2020 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Trophy All-American … four-time All-State selection.

PERSONAL
2025 Kay Yow Servant Leader selection … Graduated in 2024 with a degree in multidisciplinary studies … Pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration, curriculum and supervision … Daughter of Robin and David Verhulst … Mother played basketball at Duke, father played basketball at Rockhurst, brother Quinton played basketball at St. Mary’s, brother Dalton played basketball at Friends University (Kan.), sister Ashton played women’s basketball at UCF.