Largely because of the play of Adreian Payne, Michigan State has taken over the top spot in the AP Poll. With the era of one-and-done phenoms, the senior forward has been a rare gem for the Spartans early on.
 
Payne, a 6-foot-10, 245 pound power forward with great length, has played exceptionally for Tom Izzo's Spartans. After a junior season in which he averaged 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, Payne made the decision to return to school despite appearing as a possible first round selection. The decision could definitely pay off, as his play early in the season has him as a fringe lottery pick.
 
After a 10 point, 10 rebound performance against McNeese State, Payne burst onto the big stage against formerly top-ranked Kentucky last week. He had 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting with a three, one dribble pull-up, and multiple finishes in the post. Payne also did a good job defensively on freshman sensation Julius Randle despite foul trouble that limited him to 25 minutes.
 
"I played a lot more in the block today instead of out by the perimeter," Payne told Mike Griffith of MLive.com after the game. "They had some length down low, coming from the baseline help side. I tried to play through it and find other ways to score. That's what I'm still trying to figure out, find a happy medium, mix my game up with jumpers and still play on the block to help my team.''

After the huge victory, Michigan State survived a scare when it took on Columbia the following game, but Payne had some clutch baskets during crunch time to seal a 62-53 win. He used his frame to dominate in the post, as he refused to settle for jumpers. Payne finished with a career-high 26 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting and 11 rebounds. As a result, he was awarded Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

Payne has shown the ability to dominate down in the post, but has added a much more consistent jump shot. Most were skeptical of his 38 percent shooting percentage from 3-point range as he only attempted 42 shots from behind the arc last season. This year, Payne has shown he can legitimately stretch the floor, as he’s 4-of-10 from 3-point land. Sure, he’ll need to continue to shoot well to truly hold this status, but it’s been a good indication so far. Draft Express currently ranks Payne as the 18th best prospect in the country and the second best senior behind Creighton’s Doug McDermott.

As a lengthy big man with a high motor, it’s no surprise that Payne is averaging an additional 7.75 rebounds to go with his 17.75 points per game. He’s extremely athletic which helps him corral rebounds in addition to finish with high-flying dunks.

It’s early in the season, but Payne might be the most improved returner in the country. With Payne and other key experienced pieces in the mix for Michigan State, the Spartans should hang around the top of the rankings for most of the season.