- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Catholic Central girls hoops standout voted Grand Rapids area's top winter sports junior
Payton Fellows is averaging 14 points per game for the 17-3 Cougars.
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Payton Fellows, a junior guard for the Grand Rapids Catholic Central girls basketball team, has been voted the Grand Rapids area's top winter sports athlete from the class of 2027. Through 20 games, the 5-foot-11 wing is averaging 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks per game, while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. Her standout performance has helped Catholic Central rise to No. 8 in the most recent Division 2 state rankings.
Why it matters
The last time Grand Rapids Catholic Central's girls basketball team won 17 games in a regular season, it went on to reach the state championship game. With the 2025-26 campaign winding down, the Cougars hope that level of regular season success is a sign of things to come in March.
The details
Catholic Central is 17-3 with two games left, and a big reason behind that success is junior guard Payton Fellows. Fellows outpaced 22 other juniors that are starring for their respective teams, including West Catholic star forward Alexis Asekomeh, who was the runner-up after averaging 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game through the season's first nine weeks. The two standouts from the class of 2027 squared off Thursday, with West Catholic pulling off a 53-40 win behind 12 points from Asekomeh and 15 from sophomore guard Kenley Slanger. Fellows finished with eight points for the Cougars.
- Through 20 games, the 5-foot-11 wing is averaging 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks per game.
- Catholic Central is 17-3 with two games left.
- The two standouts from the class of 2027 squared off Thursday.
The players
Payton Fellows
A 5-foot-11 junior guard for the Grand Rapids Catholic Central girls basketball team who is averaging 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks per game.
Alexis Asekomeh
A star junior forward for the West Catholic girls basketball team who was the runner-up for the Grand Rapids area's top winter sports athlete from the class of 2027, averaging 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
Kenley Slanger
A sophomore guard for the West Catholic girls basketball team who scored 15 points in the team's 53-40 win over Catholic Central.
What’s next
A rematch could happen in the regional finals, though a potential regional semifinal matchup against undefeated Covenant Christian (18-0) looms for West Catholic (15-5). For Catholic Central, the biggest obstacle, at least on paper, is NorthPointe Christian (10-9) in the district tournament.
The takeaway
Payton Fellows' standout performance this season has helped Catholic Central rise to No. 8 in the most recent Division 2 state rankings, and her recognition as the Grand Rapids area's top winter sports junior showcases the depth of talent in the region's high school basketball scene.
