For most fans of the Boston Celtics, our knowledge of combo guard Payton Pritchard began when then-President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge picked the Oregon standout at No. 26 in the 2020 NBA draft.
But the West Linn native did not become adept at his craft overnight. He was an elite shooter and passer as far back as his time with West Linn High School. There, Pritchard earned 2014 and 2015 Todd Pratt Player of the Year, Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year and 2015 Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year awards.
A knockdown shooter with elite court vision at that level, Fast PP (as he is sometimes called) likely caught the Celtics’ scouts’ eye that far back in his career. Especially Ainge’s, given he, too, is an Oregonian point guard a little short in stature (if not moxie).
Check out the clip of the Celtics’ long-range assassin going ham on opponents in high school to see how long it’s been since Pritchard was a threat on the hardwood for yourself.
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