Iowa prep Payton Sandfort signs with reigning NBA champions

Dana Becker

Iowa prep Payton Sandfort signs with reigning NBA champions image

Former Waukee High School standout Payton Sandfort will have the opportunity to earn a spot with the reigning NBA champions. Sandfort signed a undrafted rookie free agent contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While with Waukee, Sandfort earned Class 4A player of the year honors as a senior and was a McDonald's All-American nominee. He led the Warriors to a state championship, a state runner-up finish and a third place team finish.

Sandfort committed to the University of Iowa after his brilliant prep career, averaging 16.7 points and six rebounds this past year as a senior. He earned honorable mention all-Big Ten status, scoring in double figures 27 times while reaching 20 points in 14 games.

The winner of the Chris Street Award for the 2024-25 season, Sandfort knocked down 84 three-pointers including tying the Big Ten Tournament single-game record with eight in his last time as a Hawkeye vs. Illinois.

Sandfort is just the second player in Iowa history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and made 250 triples in a career. He earned third team all-Big Ten status as a junior.

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Dana Becker

Dana Becker is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has been a sports writer since 2000, covering high school sports, the Big 12 and more for On SI, The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others.