It remains to be seen whether or not his burden academically and athletically at Hargrave Military Academy -- located in Chatham, Va. -- will be even heavier next winter.

Payne, who averaged 13.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while helping the Patriots reach the Class AAA state championship game, has decided to forego his final year of high school basketball in favor of joining Hargrave.

The 6-foot-4 Payne was considered among the top juniors in the Mountain State despite being overshadowed this past season at GW by seniors Chris Long -- who finished third in state player of the year balloting -- and Andrew Payne -- the older brother of Cameron. Andrew Payne will be attending Washington & Lee, which is located in Lexington, Va. Long, however, has not finalized his college plans.

Cameron Payne, who won't turn 17 years of age until May 11, figures he could play two years at the prep level.

"College coaches start coming in to watch you work out and practice the first of September," said Cameron, a third team All-State selection as a junior.

"They come pretty much every day. The basketball can maximize my potential."

Hargrave begins practice Aug. 29 and scrimmages Oak Hill Academy (Va.) on Oct. 24, more than three weeks before West Virginia high school teams can begin practicing.

There are several other attractions of playing at the prep school level, according to Payne, including having several Division I prospects as teammates.

According to Hargrave's Web site, 10 of the 13 players on the team's 2005-06 roster will either play Division I this season or have been signed by D-I schools including Vernon Macklin, a McDonald's All-American, who is headed to Georgetown.

"I spoke with (Vernon) Macklin," Payne said.

"It was good enough for him to give up his senior year. He realized he needed help and that's where he went."

Also, Payne will be coached by former Marshall assistant Kevin Keatts, who was an assistant under former MU coach Greg White from 2002-04 before returning to Hargrave where he spent four previous seasons as an assistant and head coach.

The decision wasn't easy for Payne, who will be passing up his senior season and the opportunity to be the returning leading scorer on the Patriots, who lost to Huntington last March in the Class AAA title game.

"I was kind of skeptical at first," Payne said. "Then, when I visited I just liked it.

"Everything is so close. I sleep on the top floor, I just go downstairs to each lunch then go across the street to play basketball.

"We talked to the academics adviser, the president of the school and you seem very wanted there."