While Payton Sandfort shines in basketball, his girlfriend Brooke McKee builds her own legacy in track.
Highlights
- Payton Sandfort comes from a basketball family legacy, with both parents having played college basketball and his younger brother Pryce also playing alongside him at Iowa.
- Brooke McKee is an accomplished student-athlete who has earned several academic honors, including multiple Dean’s List recognitions and Academic All-Big Ten status, while competing at a high level in track and cross country.
- Sandfort excelled in both basketball and golf in high school, while McKee has competed across multiple running events and also lettered in soccer and basketball during her high school years.
Payton Sandfort has emerged as one of the most promising talents in college basketball while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference.
Born on July 12, 2002, in Waukee, Iowa, Sandfort developed his basketball skills at Waukee High School, where he demonstrated exceptional versatility on the court.
During his senior year, he averaged an impressive 16.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, earning him the prestigious Iowa Basketball Coaches Association 4A Player of the Year award.
Sandfort’s athletic prowess extends beyond basketball, as he also contributed to Waukee High School’s state championship-winning golf team during his senior year.
His talent and dedication caught the attention of several college programs, including Stanford, Utah, Minnesota, and Drake, but he ultimately chose to stay in his home state and commit to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
As a freshman at Iowa, Sandfort primarily served as a role player, coming off the bench in 34 games and averaging 5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, he grew an inch taller and earned a starting position as shooting guard.
However, shooting challenges led to his return to a bench role, where he thrived and was named the Big Ten Conference Sixth Man of the Year at the end of the regular season.
Basketball runs deep in the Sandfort family. His younger brother, Pryce, also plays basketball at Iowa, creating a unique sibling dynamic on the team.
Both of his parents were college basketball players—his mother at Simpson College and his father at Hastings College—showing that athletic excellence is truly a family tradition.
Payton Sandfort’s Girlfriend, Brooke McKee, Excels As A Standout Athlete At Iowa
While Payton Sandfort makes headlines on the basketball court, his girlfriend, Brooke McKee, is carving out her own impressive athletic legacy at the University of Iowa.
Born on February 4, 2002, McKee is an accomplished distance runner for the Hawkeyes’ track and cross country teams, creating one of the most athletic couples on campus.
McKee, who hails from Johnston, Iowa, brings an impressive high school resume to her collegiate career.
During her high school years, she won conference titles in cross country and the 3,000 meters, as well as district titles in cross country, 1,500 meters, and 3,000 meters during her junior year.
She placed third at the state cross country meet twice and fourth once, while also securing second place in the 3,000 meters and fourth in the 1,500 meters at the state meet during her junior year.
Her accolades include being an eight-time all-conference and all-district selection and a seven-time all-state honoree in cross country and track.
McKee qualified for the state meet and prestigious Drake Relays six times and helped her team secure three state titles and two conference championships in cross country.
Her athletic versatility extends beyond running, as she also lettered in soccer (three years) and basketball (two years) while maintaining academic excellence as a four-year all-academic honoree and National Honor Society member.
At Iowa, McKee has continued to build on her impressive high school career.
During the 2022 indoor season, she ran team-leading times in the 3,000 meters (9:41.46) and posted strong performances in the 5,000 meters (16:50.17) at the Big Ten Championships.
In the 2023 outdoor season, she ran a 3,000-meter steeplechase time of 10:39.88 at the Bryan Clay Invite, which ranks sixth all-time at Iowa, showcasing her place among the program’s elite athletes.
McKee has been a consistent contributor to Iowa’s cross country team as well.
In 2021, she was Iowa’s top finisher at the Big Ten Championships, placing 52nd with a time of 21:53.7 in the 6,000 meters.
She has frequently been among Iowa’s top three finishers at major meets, demonstrating her importance to the team.
Her athletic prowess is matched by her academic excellence. McKee has been named to the Dean’s List multiple times (Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2024) and has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
She studies business analytics and information systems, balancing the demands of being a Division I athlete with a challenging academic program.
Athletic excellence runs in the McKee family as well, with her sister Jessica also competing on Iowa’s track team.
This shared athletic background might be one of the connections that strengthens Brooke’s relationship with Payton, as both come from families where sports play a central role.
The relationship between Payton Sandfort and Brooke McKee represents a union of two of Iowa’s dedicated student-athletes who understand the commitment, discipline, and passion required to compete at the highest collegiate level while maintaining academic excellence.
Their shared experiences as Hawkeye athletes likely helps them support each other through the ups and downs of collegiate sports competition, creating a strong foundation for their relationship.
Additional Information
- During his high school junior year, Sandfort demonstrated exceptional versatility by averaging nearly 20 points per game (19.8), along with 8.7 rebounds and 4 assists.
- Despite being rated as a three-star recruit coming out of high school, Sandfort received interest from several prestigious programs, including Stanford and Air Force, before choosing Iowa.
- Sandfort experienced physical development during his college career, growing one inch taller between his freshman and sophomore seasons, which coincided with his promotion to starting shooting guard.
