Senior guard has FHS poised to contend

FAYETTEVILLE -- A typical Sunday for Fayetteville Coach Kyle Adams includes a drive up Interstate 49 and a phone call from guard Payton Willis. The weekend offers Adams an opportunity for some family time, so Sundays regularly involve trips to Bentonville to visit his mother-in-law. Like clockwork, he can expect an early afternoon call from Willis reminding him to come unlock Fayetteville's arena when he gets back in town so he can spend some extra time in the gym. "He'll call me and ask if I'm out of town, and I'll say, yeah, I'll be back at two," Adams said. "He'll say, I'll meet you at two." Willis' Sunday afternoon gym sessions with his father can last anywhere from two to four hours and typically focus on the 6-5, 170-pound Vanderbilt commitment practicing game-like shots. The workouts are intense. He has a big senior season to prepare for. He can't remember what phrase Fayetteville basketball team uttered in unison when it broke huddles last season. Neither can Adams. But Willis and the rest of the senior class have chosen a phrase for this season that is straight and to the point. State champs. That's the goal. And the Bulldogs believe it's an obtainable one, thanks in no small part to Willis, who averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals last year and then played well against top competition from across the nation with the Arkansas Wings Elite AAU team. Willis shot 44.7 percent from three-point range last season. He is a natural scorer, also works hard at his craft, evidenced by the Sunday shoot-around. Willis isn't the first Fayetteville player to spend extra time in the gym during Adams' tenure. Former Bulldogs Kikko Haydar, Manny Watkins and Tyler McCullough all spent ample time working on their game outside of practice. Those players were all Division I talents, and they also accomplished something Willis is chasing. All three played for state titles. Willis wants to position the Bulldogs to compete for a title of their own. "If we're going to win [big games], it's going to be through him," Adams said. "Everybody's going to have to do their part, but he's going to have to lead us." Fayetteville returns most of the key pieces from a team that pushed North Little Rock, last season's Class 7A state champion, in the semifinals of the playoffs. The Bulldogs had a late lead before North Little Rock pulled out a 66-65 victory. The Bulldogs are expected to give opponents problems with their size and flexibility. The Bulldogs feature a stable of players who can be used at multiple positions, such as seniors Josh Breathitt, Drake Wymer, August Carlson and Demaunte Youngblood. Willis and senior point guard Spencer Brown return in the backcourt, and several underclassmen are poised to push for playing time. "There's a lot of options in there," Adams said. Willis figures to be at the center of it all after his performance last season against North Little Rock. The highlight of the game was Willis' back-and-forth shooting display with former NLR standout and current Florida Gator KeVaughn Allen in the second quarter. The two combined to knock down nine three-pointers in the first half. "I don't even remember," Willis said of the duel. "All I really remember is just the last few seconds of the game, [KeVaughn] coming down, getting fouled and hitting those free throws [to win]." That's been a source of motivation ever since.

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SENIOR GUARD HAS FHS POISED TO CONTEND

JIMMY CARTER

NWADG | 11/8/2015

PHOTO CREDIT: NWADG