TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State head men's basketball coach Ja Havens announced Friday the signing of Payton Breedlove (Bridge Creek, Okla.), who is returning to Oklahoma after playing the last two seasons at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC). 

"Payton is a great young man with a strong work ethic," said Havens.  "He brings good size and skill to our program, and he has the ability to stretch the floor with his perimeter shooting. He will help our team on both ends of the floor with his length and versatility." 

"Payton has played in successful programs in high school and college, and he understands what it takes to compete at a high level."

Breedlove played 36 games at NIACC and had a successful true-freshman season playing a role on a squad that went 25-7 overall and held a top-ranking in NJCAA Division II.  He averaged five points and three rebounds per game while shooting 57-percent from the field and 56-percent from the arc. 

Breedlove was twice named to Academic All-Region for his work in the classroom while at NIACC. 

At Bridge Creek High School, he was named by The Oklahoman as All-State Honorable Mention twice and a member of the Little All-City Team following his junior and senior year.  Breedlove carried a 58 field goal percentage as a senior, which was among the top-10 in the state while averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game.   Breedlove graduated from Bridge Creek as a Valedictorian holding a 4.1-grade point average.