After a disappointing end to the 2025-26 season with a first-round Northeast Conference Tournament exit to the Wagner Seahawks, the Blue Devils wasted no time announcing two new transfer portal additions on April 27.
The first of the pair is Victor Payne. Payne is a 6-foot-4 guard who spent his first two years at NEC rival Saint Francis University, where he averaged 4.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game in 56 games during his time at SFU. In his sophomore season, he earned the trust of his coaches and took a big jump in playing time, going from 8.3 minutes per game to 23.8.
Payne is no stranger to Connecticut. He is a Cromwell native who spent four years at Cromwell High School, where he scored 1,629 points, which is second all-time in school history. Not only was he able to stuff the stat sheet, but he was also a team captain, a two-time Shoreline Conference Player of the Year and led his team to a state championship appearance.
He also has family ties to Central, as his father, Victor Payne Sr., played for the Blue Devils from 1996 to 2000. In his senior season he averaged 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game and helped Central win its first NEC Tournament Championship.
CCSU Head Coach Patrick Sellers described his excitement for Payne and what he envisions from him next season.
“We are very happy to have Victor join the Central Connecticut program,” Sellers said. “He is an elite shooter and could be one of the top all-around players in our league, along with having Division I experience. Victor has familiarity with our program at CCSU, and we look forward to him joining the Blue Devils family.”
Central also added Jhace Johnson. Johnson is a 6-foot-1 guard who spent his first two years at Cochise College, a junior college located in Sierra Vista, Arizona. In his first season he averaged 7.7 points, 3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in 30 games. In his sophomore season he averaged 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game and was an important part of Cochise’s National Junior College Athletic Association West District title game appearance. Former Blue Devil and CCSU Division I assist leader Jay Rodgers also attended Cochise before transferring to Central.
Johnson is a Maryland native out of Lanham and attended S3 Academy in Petersburg, Virginia, where he was a two-time Second Team All-Big Shots, three-time First Team All-Big Shots and Misal League Honorable Mention.
Sellers also spoke on the addition of Johnson.
“Jhace will be a great addition to the Central Connecticut program,” Sellers said. ”He brings experience and will bring an athleticism and toughness that will give him the opportunity to contribute immediately. Jhace possesses a great deal of speed, and we look forward to him contributing to our culture of success.”
Central still has a lot of work to do after losing four of its five starters from last season (Darin Smith Jr., Jay Rodgers, Max Frazier and Melo Sanchez), but this is a good starting point. The Blue Devils still need to address the wing and big positions, but they may hang their hat on internal development.
