CORVALLIS — During a recent Oregon State men's basketball practice, head coach Wayne Tinkle watched his players box out after a shot went up.
But when five defenders stood still as the ball bounced off the rim, Tinkle was quick to interject with a direct message: Gary Payton II will not be around this year to grab those rebounds.
Payton not only led the Beavers in points, assists and steals, but the two-time first team all-Pac-12 honoree with a 38.5-inch vertical leap also was their best rebounder.
"He was a freak of nature," Tinkle said.