Hagans signs with William Woods

MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant senior Payton Hagans will be playing his college ball in Fulton, Mo.

Hagans signed his letter of intent to attend and play men’s basketball at William Woods University last week. He’ll be playing for former Panther star and Iowa Wesleyan coach Jordan Ashton, who enters his second year with the Wolves.

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Hagans will be joining former teammate Aaidan Ashton, who graduated from Mt. Pleasant last spring.

“They brought a lot of Wesleyan kids down there, so I’ve already got relationships with them,” Hagans said. “Relationships with Aaidan, and the coach.”

Hagans is a two-time All-State basketball player. This winter, he scored 22.8 points per game and was named Southeast Conference Player of the Year.

Hagans joins a William Woods team that 12-16 overall last year, but finished 10-4 in the American Midwest Conference.

Hagans says he owes Coach Eric Rawson and the Mt. Pleasant boys basketball program for helping him become the player he is today.

“I respect Coach Rawson a lot, because he’s taught me a lot,” Hagans said. “He came my freshman year. Having the same coach all four years, being able to build a relationship that helps a lot and it helps develop a player a lot.”