Payton Sparks

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Amber Pietz, Ball State Creative Services

Photo by: Heather Parker

Photo by: Heather Parker

Photo by: Buffalo Athletics

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Amber Pietz, Ball State Creative Services

Photo by: Collin Phillips/Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Chad Smith

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Photo by: Chad Smith

Photo by: Chad Smith

Photo by: Chad Smith

Position:
Center
Height:
6-10
Weight:
265
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Winchester, Ind.
High School:
Winchester

Career Accolades
2024-25 Honorable Mention All-MAC
MAC Player of the Week - Feb. 3, 2025
2023 Second Team All-MAC
No. 3 in BSU history in scoring as a freshman
2022 Kyle Macy Freshmen All-America Team College Insider
2022 MAC Freshman of the Year
2022 NABC All-District Second Team
2022 Third Team All-MAC
2022 MAC All-Freshman Team

2024-25 (Senior at Ball State): Made 26 starts and played in all 31 games ... averaged 12.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.8 minutes per game ... upped those averages to 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in conference play ... scored in double figures in 20 games ... posted a career-high 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a win at Buffalo (2/1) on his way to a MAC Player of the Week honor ... went for 19 points and a career-best 17 boards against Western Michigan (1/28) ... finished his collegiate playing days 3rd in field goal percentage (.568), 5th in free throws made (387), 9th in rebounds (771), 10th in blocks (64), and 23rd in points (1,220) for a career in Ball State program history

2023-24 (Junior at Indiana): Appeared in 24 games including a pair of starts ... averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game ... tallied nine points, three rebounds and one block vs. Louisville (11/20) ... pulled down four rebounds against Maryland (12/1) ... scored six points at Michigan (12/5) ... went for five rebounds and a steal vs. North Alabama (12/21) ... accumulated 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a career-high four blocks while starting against Kennesaw State (12/29) ... chipped in five points and four rebounds against No. 2 Purdue (1/16) ... scored seven points and collected two steals in his second start of the season at No. 11/8 Wisconsin (1/19) ... charted two points, two rebounds and one block against Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament (3/15).

2022-23 (Sophomore): Voted Second Team All-MAC after starting all 31 games ... averaged 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds (4th in the MAC), and 1.9 assists per game… shot 58.8 percent (147-of-250, 3rd in the MAC) from the floor ... scored in double figures 23 times including 10 double-doubles ... scored a career-high 24 points and secured 12 rebounds vs. Missouri State (11/26) ... stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists at Duquesne (12/3) ... went for an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double against Evansville (12/10) ... contributed 12 points and 14 rebounds against Miami (OH) on 1/14 ... tallied 22 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three blocks against Eastern Michigan (2/3) ... put up 20 points and 16 rebounds vs. Northern Illinois (2/14) ... posted 24 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo (3/3) ... scored 21 points against Ohio in the MAC Tournament (3/9).

2021-22 (Freshman): Named to the Kyle Macy Freshman All-America Team by College Insider … voted MAC Freshman of the Year, Third Team All-MAC and MAC All-Freshman Team … earned a spot on the NABC All-District Second Team … scored 418 points, which is No. 3 as a freshman in BSU history … finished second in the MAC with 12 double-doubles, which led the team … appeared and started all 31 games as a freshman … recorded a career-high 23 points twice, once against Akron (1/11) and the other against Miami (1/25) … brought down a personal-best 16 rebounds against Buffalo on Jan. 14 … dished out a career-high five assists against IU-Kokomo on Dec. 12 … made a personal-best nine free throws against Bowling Green on Feb. 19 … picked up a career-high two steals in the season opener at Georgia Southern on Nov. 9 … finished the season with 37 assists, 15 blocks, and 12 steals.

High School: Sparks is a left-handed post player from nearby Winchester, Indiana, and his high school team improved every season he played… Winchester improved from seven wins to 17 wins as Sparks developed and improved … averaged a double-double in both his sophomore and junior years, including 21.9 points and 12.4 rebounds as a junior … he was named Small School All-State and Conference Player of the Year … played for Midwest Basketball Club on the AAU circuit and also lettered in tennis.