James Payne

Christian/Husband/Father/Educator/Head Basketball Coach at Central High School

[James Payne @JamesHPayne]

@DukeMBB @rheidrick24 @KyrieIrving Let’s make it happen!

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

Region Starts Tonight
Round 1 at home
#PrideandTradition

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

Your 4A District 3 Coach of the Year, JP Payne!

🏆10-0 District regular season record
🏆District regular season and tournament champions

#PrideAndTradition

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

District regular season and tournament champions! #PrideandTradition

[Zac Montgomery, CSCS @coachzmonty]

20 more wins than last season.
🧹 the District this year.
Job’s still not finished yet!

Proud would be an understatement! Love this team!! @CHSBobcatsMBB @JamesHPayne @CHS_athletics__

[Central_Athletics_ @CHS_athletics__]

Final:
@CHSBobcatsMBB 68
Cumberland County 63

Bobcats set the school record for wins in a season finishing 26-3 and remain undefeated at home.

Bobcats will face the winner of the Karns/Halls game on Friday!

#prideandtradition

[Central_Athletics_ @CHS_athletics__]

Ball Game!

@CHSBobcatsMBB 53
Jeff Co 52

Final/OT

Bobcats move to 22-3 (9-0) on the season.

Next up Bobcats is Gibbs on Tuesday Night

[Sam Granville @samgranvilletv]

First season under @JamesHPayne... best start since 2010! The Bobcats are 11-2 and rolling toward the New Year with their eyes on a district title! @CHS_athletics__

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

On the road at Pigeon Forge.
JV 4:30 | Varsity 7:30
#PrideandTradition

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

Hard fought battle on the road at Halls to start district play 1-0. Bobcats move on to another district road test at Karns on Friday #PrideAndTradition

[James Payne @JamesHPayne]

Proud of you man!! Honored to be there with you. Well deserved!

[DJ Smith @Smithboys0806]

What an Honor! Thank you @BenCollins_AD and @CHS_athletics__ @KnoxCentralHS for nominating me for the Optimist Club of Knoxville-Service To Humanity Award! @CHSBobcatsMBB @JamesHPayne

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

On to the next one, Bobcats back in action on Friday. Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving! #PrideAndTradition

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

No better way to start the week.
Central vs Morristown East
6:00 PM at Gibbs High School
#PrideandTradition

[James Payne @JamesHPayne]

@DukeMBB 91-62 Duke

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

The official 2025-2026 Central High School Men’s Basketball schedule #PrideAndTradition

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

Friday breakfast club #PrideandTradition

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

Work today, results tomorrow! #PrideandTradition

[James Payne @JamesHPayne]

Guys are getting after it! Hard work before the season starts!

[Knoxville Central S&C @BobcatsStrong]

Preseason loading…📈

@CHSBobcatsMBB

[Central Men’s Basketball @CHSBobcatsMBB]

Proud to launch the official X account for Central High School’s Men’s Basketball Program #PrideAndTradition

[James Payne @JamesHPayne]

@docrm10 Is it worth looking at his gambling history? He completely quit on the play.