Marcus Taylor Paige (born September 11, 1993) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina, where he helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2016 NCAA championship game, and now serves in a support staff role at his alma mater. In addition to being a citizen of the United States, Paige also has Serbian citizenship.
 Paige with the Greensboro Swarm | |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | |
|---|---|
| Position | Director of Team and Player Development |
| League | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 11, 1993 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Serbian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Linn-Mar (Marion, Iowa) |
| College | North Carolina (2012–2016) |
| NBA draft | 2016: 2nd round, 55th overall pick |
| Selected by the Brooklyn Nets | |
| Playing career | 2016–2023 |
| Position | Point guard / shooting guard |
| Number | 4 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 2016–2017 | Salt Lake City Stars |
| 2017–2018 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2017–2018 | →Greensboro Swarm |
| 2018–2021 | Partizan |
| 2021–2022 | Orléans |
| 2022–2023 | Obradoiro |
| As coach: | |
| 2023–present | North Carolina (Dir. Team & Player Development) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
High school career edit
Paige was rated as the number 22 overall player (and the best point guard) in the class of 2012 in the ESPNU 100,[1] the number 35 player by Scout.com,[2] and the number 34 player by Rivals.com.[3]
In his junior year, Paige led Linn-Mar High School to an undefeated season and the 2011 4-A state title. Considered by scouts to be an excellent ball handler with shooting range to the three-point line,[4] Paige also played on the AAU circuit with Martin Brothers Select.
On January 8, 2011, Paige verbally committed to play college basketball for North Carolina, turning down scholarship offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota, Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa.
In his senior season, Paige was the leader of his Linn-Mar team, as he averaged over 28 points per game. He also recorded the most single-game points total in school history with 49 against Cedar Rapids Kennedy in Substate. Paige's high school career ended when Linn-Mar was defeated by Iowa City West in the state semi-finals.
College recruitment edit
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Paige PG | Marion, IA | Linn-Mar HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jan 8, 2011 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 96 | ||||||
College career edit
Freshman season edit
During his freshman season at North Carolina, Paige averaged 8.6 points and 4.6 assists per game and started 34 of 36 games for the Tar Heels. Throughout the season, his assist-to-turnover ratio was 1.8:1, which was sixth best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His season high for points in a game was against Virginia Tech, with 19, and a season high for assists against Notre Dame with 10. Paige led the Tar Heels to the round of thirty-two where they eventually lost to the Kansas Jayhawks 70–58. At season's end, he was elected to both the ACC All-Academic Team and the Freshman All-American team.[5]
Sophomore season edit
Paige improved his statistics from his freshman season. During his sophomore season, he averaged 17.5 points per game and 4.2 assists per game. Throughout the season, he shot 44% from the field, 39% from three-point range, and 87.7% from the free throw line. His points-per-game average was fourth in the ACC, and his free throw percentage was the highest in the entire conference. Paige led the Tar Heels to the NCAA tournament, where for a second year in a row, they lost in the round of thirty-two, this time against Iowa State 85–83. He was named second-team All-American, first-team All-ACC, and was awarded the ACC's Most Improved Player.[5]
Junior season edit
Paige finished his junior season averaging 14.1 points and 4.5 assists per game. After a stellar sophomore season, Paige had a dip in offensive production. He managed to shoot 39.5% from three-point range while shooting only 41.3% from the field. For the season, Paige fell only one three-pointer short of tying Shammond Williams's record for most three-pointers made in a single season (which is now held by Justin Jackson at 101). Paige earned himself second-team Academic All-American honors for the second consecutive year, as he managed to also earn second-team All-ACC honors.[5] His statistical drops are in part credited to a case of plantar fasciitis that Paige was fighting all year long.[6]
Senior season edit
Paige was named preseason ACC player of the year. Early in the season, he was widely regarded to have been in a shooting slump.[7] He broke the UNC record for the most career three-pointers made (299). However, he recovered late in the season and helped the Tar Heels win the 2016 ACC tournament and lead them to the 2016 NCAA championship game, where they faced Villanova. In the game, Paige scored 21 points and hit a game-tying circus three-pointer with 4.7 seconds left in the second half of regulation. However, Villanova's Kris Jenkins went on to score a buzzer beater to win the game 77–74.[8]
Professional career edit
Salt Lake City Stars (2016–2017) edit
On June 23, 2016, Paige was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 55th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He was later traded to the Utah Jazz the following day.[9] He signed with the Jazz on August 22, 2016,[10] but was waived on October 13.[11] On October 31, he was acquired by the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA Development League.[12]Paige appeared in 46 games and started 40 for the Salt Lake City Stars in the 2016–17 NBA Development league season. His season averages were 12.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 32.7 minutes per game.
Paige joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Charlotte Hornets (2017–2018) edit
On August 1, 2017, Paige signed a two-way contract by the Charlotte Hornets. Under the terms of the deal, he and fellow two-way affiliate Mangok Mathiang split time between the Hornets and their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.[13] Paige averaged 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in 46 games with Greensboro.[14] On June 29, 2018, the Hornets announced that they would decline a qualifying offer to Paige, making him a free agent.[15]
Partizan (2018–2021) edit
On July 11, 2018, Paige signed a two-year contract with the Serbian club Partizan[16] of the ABA League.
On February 12, 2019, Paige obtained a Serbian passport and Serbian citizenship.[17] He signed a two-year deal on May 9, 2020.[18]
On May 9, 2020, Paige signed a second two-year contract after helping the club to both the Serbian Cup and ABA League Supercup in 2019 and a second Serbian Cup in 2020.[19] Partizan parted ways with him in August 2021.
Orléans Loiret (2021–2022) edit
On September 16, 2021, Paige signed with French club Orléans Loiret Basket of the LNB Pro A.[20]
Monbus Obradoiro (2022–2023) edit
On July 17, 2022, Paige signed with Spanish club Monbus Obradoiro of the Liga ACB.
Coaching career edit
Return to North Carolina (2023–present) edit
On April 26, 2023, Paige agreed to join coach Hubert Davis's UNC coaching staff as director of team and player development. [21] Paige fills a role vacated by another former Tar Heel in Jackie Manuel, who left his alma mater to take an on-the-bench coaching position at American University. Paige's hiring was officially announced by the school in June.[22]
Career statistics edit
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College edit
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | North Carolina | 35 | 34 | 29.2 | .356 | .344 | .836 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 1.4 | .1 | 8.2 |
| 2013–14 | North Carolina | 34 | 33 | 35.6 | .440 | .389 | .877 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 1.5 | .2 | 17.5 |
| 2014–15 | North Carolina | 38 | 38 | 33.2 | .413 | .395 | .865 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 1.7 | .2 | 14.1 |
| 2015–16 | North Carolina | 34 | 34 | 31.6 | .397 | .355 | .796 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .4 | 13.4 |
| Career | 141 | 139 | 32.4 | .407 | .374 | .848 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .2 | 13.3 | |
Source: sports-reference.com
Professional career edit
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage |
| 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game |
| PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high | Led the league | |
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Salt Lake City Stars | NBA D-League | 46 | 32.7 | .398 | .354 | .837 | 2.2 | 2.3 | .9 | .3 | 12.1 |
| 2017–18 | Greensboro Swarm | NBA G League | 46 | 32.6 | .428 | .373 | .847 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 1.4 | .2 | 15.2 |
| 2017–18 | Charlotte Hornets | NBA | 5 | 5.6 | .286 | .250 | 1.000 | .8 | .6 | .0 | .0 | 2.4 |
| 2018–19 | Partizan | ABA League | 60 | 24.2 | .405 | .375 | .792 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .3 | 10.2 |
| 2019–20 | Partizan | ABA League | 42 | 22.3 | .461 | .462 | .857 | 1.5 | 1.9 | .8 | .3 | 9.9 |
| 2020–21 | Partizan | ABA League | 43 | 25.8 | .424 | .422 | .767 | 1.3 | 2.4 | .9 | .3 | 8.9 |
| 2021–22 | Orléans Loiret Basket | LNB Pro A | 27 | 29.9 | .454 | .423 | .860 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.1 | .2 | 9.9 |
| 2022–23 | Monbus Obradoiro | ACB | 6 | 18.6 | .294 | .235 | .857 | .5 | 1.7 | .8 | .0 | 5.0 |
References edit
- ^ "2012 College Basketball Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ "Scout.com College Basketball Team Recruiting Prospects". ScoutHoops.Scout.com. ScoutHoops. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ "The Rivals150 2012 Prospect Rankings". Rivals.com. Yahoo.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ "2012 Elite 100". TheHoopsWindow.com. The Hoops Window. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c "Marcus Page bio". GoHeels.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Auerbach, Nicole (November 2, 2015). "No. 1 North Carolina's Marcus Paige puts better foot forward". USAToday.com. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ Waliga, Heather (April 5, 2016). "MARCUS PAIGE'S PARENTS PROUD TO SUPPORT SON IN NCAA FINALS". ABC11.com. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Villanova beats North Carolina on Jenkins' buzzer-beater to claim first national championship since 1985". ESPN.com. April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Brooklyn Nets Acquire Draft Rights to Isaiah Whitehead". NBA.com. June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ^ "Jazz Sign 2016 Draft Pick Marcus Paige". NBA.com. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ^ "Jazz Waive Dawson, Ford and Paige". NBA.com. October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ^ AllThatAmar (October 31, 2016). "Salt Lake City Stars roster and info after D-League Draft". SLCDunk.com. SB-Nation. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Wash, Quinton (August 2, 2017). "Hornets Sign Mathiang and Paige to Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ Hlas, Mike (March 27, 2018). "Final 2017-18 NBA G League stats for ex-Iowa collegians". The Gazette. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ Wash, Quinton (June 29, 2018). "Hornets Decline Qualifying Offers To Treveon Graham, Marcus Paige". NBA.com. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ "MARCUS PAIGE TWO SEASONS WITH THE BLACK AND WHITE". aba-liga.com. July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Tegeltija, Vladan (February 12, 2019). "PEJDŽ DOBIO SRPSKO DRŽAVLJANSTVO Partizan u punom sastavu ide po Kup Radivoja Koraća". sport.blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Borghesan, Ennio Terrasi (May 9, 2020). "Partizan Belgrade, Marcus Paige agree on new two-year contract". Sportando. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ^ Stroggylakis, Antonis (May 9, 2020). "Partizan signs Marcus Paige to new two-year deal". eurohoops.net. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ "Marcus Paige signs for Orléans Loiret in France". Ceiling is the Roof. 2021-09-16. Archived from the original on 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
- ^ "Marcus Paige Returning to UNC to Join Coaching Staff". 247 Sports. 2023-04-26.
- ^ Kirschner, Steve (June 9, 2023). "Marcus Paige Joins Men's Basketball Coaching Staff". GoHeels.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
External links edit
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- ABA League profile
- North Carolina Tar Heels bio