Nneka Payne’s journey has not been an easy one.

Despite her trials – which include a bout with homelessness and a high school transfer in the middle of her prep basketball career – the 2008 Auburn High School graduate has weathered her personal storms with grace and come out the other side stronger for them.

Payne now is ready to parlay her experiences into a life helping others. And it all starts with her new gig as an assistant coach for the Auburn girls basketball team.

“I want to help people, that’s my main thing,” said Payne, 22. “I want to help people who struggle and are in similar situations that I was in.

“I think I can bring a lot to the table and understand a lot of what they’re going through. I just want to help change someone’s life like someone has changed mine.”

Born in Milwaukee, Wis., Payne moved to Auburn while in elementary school.

By the time she began playing basketball, while in the eighth grade at Mt. Baker Middle School, Payne’s home life began to deteriorate.

“I was going from house to house, staying with friends,” she said. “Every week was a different place. I never knew where I was going to end up next. There was no stability at all. I didn’t know where my dad was at the time because I hadn’t seen him since we moved to Washington, and my mom just fell into the wrong types of things. And then our family kind of got split up and all the kids went their own way. It was basically every man for themselves.”

Payne found refuge from her home life on the court.

“Not a lot of people can go somewhere for an escape, where they can just go and leave every emotion they have behind,” she said. “That was really important because I didn’t have a release. It wasn’t like I could go home and relax, because I didn’t have a home to go to. So basketball was definitely my savior.”

By the time she began high school at Auburn Riverside Payne’s skills had developed enough to earn a spot on the Ravens’ varsity roster.

Despite earning an all-South Puget Sound League honorable mention as a freshman, Payne said she never felt comfortable at Auburn Riverside.

“I just didn’t feel comfortable given my situation at the time,” she said. “Riverside is a more upscale school, with more kids and families that can afford a little bit more. I just felt really out of place and didn’t feel comfortable. It was a great program and I loved playing with them. It just wasn’t my thing.”

After her sophomore year on the team, Payne decided to transfer to Auburn High School and enrolled in the Trojan girls summer basketball program under longtime head coach Ed Bender.

The decision turned out to be a life-changing one for Payne.

“I came to Bender when I was 16 and he offered his home,” she said. “Ever since then, he (and wife Denise) have been my parents, role models and go-to people.

“It was really important,” Payne continued. “I was always a self-disciplined person, but with them, they pushed me to want to get better and gave me that structure I was lacking prior to moving in with them. I’d definitely say they’re the reason why I went to college and why I’m successful at being a role model for the other people in my life.”

As a Trojan, Payne helped lead Auburn to the state tournament, averaging 15 points per game and earning an all-SPSL first-team nod.

Her success on the court drew the attention of college scouts. Payne accepted a full-ride scholarship to play basketball for Sacramento State University.

After two years in California, Payne transferred to Central Washington University to be closer to her younger siblings.

This winter, with just 20 credits left to earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in social work, Payne decided to take a break.

“I wanted to take the quarter off, focus and get ready to finish,” she said.

Back in Auburn, she decided to help out the Trojan program and work with some of the girls on the team. Her efforts led to an offer to be an assistant from second-year head coach Adam Ladage, who took over from Bender in 2010.

At first, Payne said she was going to turn down the offer.

“But after working with them (the team) I felt a sense of loyalty to them, so I decided to finish out the year and see where that kind of takes me,” Payne said.

According to Payne, her previous experiences have been crucial to the bonds she has made with her players.

“I can connect with them,” Payne said. “They think that this is the hardest thing they’re going through, so it’s nice to tell them I’ve been right where they are, and it’s important to just keep pushing through. So I think it helps them to have a coach like myself that they can go to for things that Adam may not understand when it comes to females and basketball.”

Eventually, Payne hopes to find a career in social work, helping others, adding that she hopes to continue coaching as well

“I would love to coach basketball my whole life,” she said. “I’d love to work at a higher level, but this year this is where I’m at and I’m content with that.”