Marcus Paige

Paige was rated as the number 22 overall player (and the best point guard) in the class of 2012 in the ESPNU 100,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/view/espnu100/sort/rank/class/2012|title=2012 College Basketball Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100|work=ESPN.com|access-date=February 22, 2013}} the number 35 player by Scout.com,{{cite web|url=http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&cfg=bb&pid=88&yr=2012|title=Scout.com College Basketball Team Recruiting Prospects|work=ScoutHoops.Scout.com|publisher=ScoutHoops|access-date=February 22, 2013}} and the number 34 player by Rivals.com.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/rankings/rank-2509;_ylt=AiI6gfIcQUepfUTytuUWMB3WO5B4|title=The Rivals150 2012 Prospect Rankings|work=Rivals.com|publisher=Yahoo.com|access-date=February 22, 2013}}

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,{{cite web|url=http://www.thehoopswindow.com/sample-page/12rankings/ |title=2012 Elite 100 |work=TheHoopsWindow.com |publisher=The Hoops Window |access-date=February 22, 2013 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811153056/http://www.thehoopswindow.com/sample-page/12rankings/ |archive-date=August 11, 2011 }} 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 Athlete Recruit Start|15=no|collapse=no|year=2013}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Marcus Paige

| position = PG

| hometown = Marion, IA

| highschool = Linn-Mar HS

| feet = 6

| inches = 1

| weight = 175

| commitdate = January 8, 2011

| scout stars = 4

| rivals stars = 4

| espn grade = 96

}}

|}

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.{{cite web |title=Marcus Page bio |url=https://goheels.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/marcus-paige/12064 |access-date=August 8, 2023 |work=GoHeels.com}}

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.

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. His statistical drops are in part credited to a case of plantar fasciitis that Paige was fighting all year long.{{cite web|first=Nicole|last=Auerbach|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/acc/2015/10/15/no-1-north-carolina-marcus-paige-college-basketball/73926364/|title=No. 1 North Carolina's Marcus Paige puts better foot forward|work=USAToday.com|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

File:Marcus Paige.jpg

Paige was named preseason ACC player of the year. Early in the season, he was widely regarded to have been in a shooting slump.{{cite web|first=Heather|last=Waliga|url=http://abc11.com/sports/marcus-paiges-parents-proud-to-support-son-in-finals/1275642/|title=MARCUS PAIGE'S PARENTS PROUD TO SUPPORT SON IN NCAA FINALS|work=ABC11.com|date=April 5, 2016|access-date=April 5, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |date=April 5, 2016 |title=Villanova beats North Carolina on Jenkins' buzzer-beater to claim first national championship since 1985 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400873651 |access-date=April 5, 2016 |work=ESPN.com}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/2016/06/24/brooklyn-nets-acquire-draft-rights-isaiah-whitehead/|title=Brooklyn Nets Acquire Draft Rights to Isaiah Whitehead|work=NBA.com|date=June 24, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016}} He signed with the Jazz on August 22, 2016,{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-sign-2016-draft-pick-marcus-paige|title=Jazz Sign 2016 Draft Pick Marcus Paige|work=NBA.com|date=August 22, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016}} but was waived on October 13.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-waive-dawson-ford-and-paige|title=Jazz Waive Dawson, Ford and Paige|work=NBA.com|date=October 13, 2016|access-date=October 13, 2016}} On October 31, he was acquired by the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA Development League.{{cite web |last=AllThatAmar |date=October 31, 2016 |title=Salt Lake City Stars roster and info after D-League Draft |url=https://www.slcdunk.com/2016/10/31/13478502/nba-development-league-utah-jazz-salt-lake-city-stars-jaylen-bland-carl-ona-embo-jarelle-reischel |access-date=August 8, 2023 |work=SLCDunk.com |publisher=SB-Nation}}

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.

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.{{cite news |last=Wash |first=Quinton |date=August 2, 2017 |title=Hornets Sign Mathiang and Paige to Two-Way Contracts |work=NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/hornets-sign-mathiang-and-paige-two-way-contracts |access-date=August 2, 2017}} Paige averaged 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in 46 games with Greensboro.{{cite news |last=Hlas |first=Mike |date=March 27, 2018 |title=Final 2017-18 NBA G League stats for ex-Iowa collegians |work=The Gazette |url=http://www.thegazette.com/final-nba-g-league-stats-for-ex-iowa-collegians-20180327 |access-date=May 21, 2018}} On June 29, 2018, the Hornets announced that they would decline a qualifying offer to Paige, making him a free agent.{{cite news |last=Wash |first=Quinton |date=June 29, 2018 |title=Hornets Decline Qualifying Offers To Treveon Graham, Marcus Paige |work=NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/hornets-decline-qualifying-offers-treveon-graham-marcus-paige |access-date=June 29, 2018}}

On July 11, 2018, Paige signed a two-year contract with the Serbian club Partizan{{cite web |date=July 11, 2018 |title=MARCUS PAIGE TWO SEASONS WITH THE BLACK AND WHITE |url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news/40371/marcus-paige-two-seasons-with-the-black-and-white |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=aba-liga.com}} of the ABA League.

On February 12, 2019, Paige obtained a Serbian passport and Serbian citizenship.{{cite web |last=Tegeltija |first=Vladan |date=February 12, 2019 |title=PEJDŽ DOBIO SRPSKO DRŽAVLJANSTVO Partizan u punom sastavu ide po Kup Radivoja Koraća |url=https://sportal.blic.rs/kosarka/evropska-kosarka/pejdz-dobio-srpsko-drzavljanstvo-partizan-u-punom-sastavu-ide-po-kup-radivoja-koraca/2022042121383242986 |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=sport.blic.rs |language=sr}} He signed a two-year deal on May 9, 2020.{{cite news |title=Partizan Belgrade, Marcus Paige agree on new two-year contract |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/partizan-belgrade-marcus-paige-agree-on-new-two-year-contract/ |website=Sportando |access-date=May 11, 2020 |date=May 9, 2020|last=Borghesan |first=Ennio Terrasi }}

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.{{cite web |last=Stroggylakis |first=Antonis |date=May 9, 2020 |title=Partizan signs Marcus Paige to new two-year deal |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1057719/partizan-signs-marcus-paige-to-new-two-year-deal |access-date=May 13, 2020 |website=eurohoops.net}} Partizan parted ways with him in August 2021.

On September 16, 2021, Paige signed with French club Orléans Loiret Basket of the LNB Pro A.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-16 |title=Marcus Paige signs for Orléans Loiret in France |url=https://ceilingistheroof.com/2021/09/16/marcus-paige-signs-for-orleans-loiret-in-france/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2021-09-16 |website=Ceiling is the Roof |language=en |archive-date=2021-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916223259/https://ceilingistheroof.com/2021/09/16/marcus-paige-signs-for-orleans-loiret-in-france/ }}

On July 17, 2022, Paige signed with Spanish club Monbus Obradoiro of the Liga ACB.

On April 26, 2023, Paige agreed to join coach Hubert Davis's UNC coaching staff as director of team and player development.{{Cite web|date=2023-04-26|title=Marcus Paige Returning to UNC to Join Coaching Staff|url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/article/unc-basketball-marcus-paige-joining-coaching-staff-hubert-davis--209013388/|website=247 Sports|language=en}} 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.{{cite web |last=Kirschner |first=Steve |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Marcus Paige Joins Men's Basketball Coaching Staff |url=https://goheels.com/news/2023/6/9/marcus-paige-joins-mens-basketball-coaching-staff.aspx |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=GoHeels.com}} Paige became a full assistant and assumed head coaching duties for the UNC junior varsity team with the 2024–25 season.

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 35 || 34 || 29.2 || .356 || .344 || .836 || 2.7 || 4.6 || 1.4 || .1 || 8.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 34 || 33 || 35.6 || .440 || .389 || .877 || 3.2 || 4.2 || 1.5 || .2 || 17.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 38 || 38 || 33.2 || .413 || .395 || .865 || 2.9 || 4.5 || 1.7 || .2 || 14.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 34 || 34 || 31.6 || .397 || .355 || .796 || 2.5 || 3.7 || 1.1 || .4 || 13.4

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 141 || 139 || 32.4 || .407 || .374 || .848 || 2.8 || 4.3 || 1.4 || .2 || 13.3

{{S-end}}

Source: [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/marcus-paige-1.html sports-reference.com]

{{Basketball player statistics legend}}

{{Basketball player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|{{nbay|2016}}

| style="text-align:left|Salt Lake City Stars

| NBA D-League

| 46 || 32.7 || .398 || .354 || .837 || 2.2 || 2.3 || .9 || .3 || 12.1

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|{{nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Greensboro Swarm

| NBA G League

| 46 || 32.6 || .428 || .373 || .847 || 3.0 || 4.4 || 1.4 || .2 || 15.2

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte Hornets

| NBA

| 5 || 5.6 || .286 || .250 || 1.000 || .8 || .6 || .0 || .0 || 2.4

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"|Partizan

| ABA League

| 60 || 24.2 || .405 || .375 || .792 || 2.4 || 3.7 || 1.1 || .3 || 10.2

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"|Partizan

| ABA League

| 42 || 22.3 || .461 || .462 || .857 || 1.5 || 1.9 || .8 || .3 || 9.9

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"|Partizan

| ABA League

| 43 || 25.8 || .424 || .422 || .767 || 1.3 || 2.4 || .9 || .3 || 8.9

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2021–22

| style="text-align:left;"|Orléans Loiret Basket

| LNB Pro A

| 27 || 29.9 || .454 || .423 || .860 || 1.8 || 3.4 || 1.1 || .2 || 9.9

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"|Monbus Obradoiro

| ACB

| 6 || 18.6 || .294 || .235 || .857 || .5 || 1.7 || .8 || .0 || 5.0

|-

{{s-end}}

{{reflist}}

{{basketballstats|nba=marcus_paige|bbr=p/paigema01}}

• [https://www.aba-liga.com/player.php?id=3125 ABA League profile]
• [https://goheels.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/marcus-paige/12064 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]

{{2016 NBA draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paige, Marcus}}

Category:1993 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:ABA League players

Category:All-American college men's basketball players

Category:American emigrants to Serbia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Serbia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:American men's basketball coaches

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball coaches from Iowa

Category:Basketball League of Serbia players

Category:Basketball players from Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Category:Brooklyn Nets draft picks

Category:Charlotte Hornets players

Category:Greensboro Swarm players

Category:KK Partizan players

Category:Linn-Mar High School alumni

Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans

Category:Naturalized citizens of Serbia

Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball coaches

Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball players

Category:Obradoiro CAB players

Category:Orléans Loiret Basket players

Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)

Category:People from Marion, Iowa

Category:Sportspeople from Linn County, Iowa

Category:Point guards

Category:Salt Lake City Stars players

Category:Serbian men's basketball players

Category:Serbian people of African-American descent

Category:21st-century Serbian sportsmen