Marcus Paige facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marcus Paige

Paige with the Greensboro Swarm
North Carolina Tar Heels
Assistant coach
Personal information
Born	(1993-09-11) September 11, 1993 (age 31) Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
Nationality	American / Serbian
High school	Linn-Mar (Marion, Iowa)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	North Carolina (2012–2016)
NBA Draft	2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 55th overall
Selected by the Brooklyn Nets
Pro career	2016–2023
League	Atlantic Coast Conference
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 (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
2× Serbian Cup winner (2019, 2020) ABA League Supercup winner (2019) Second-team All-American – SN (2014) 2× Second-team Academic All-American (2014, 2015) First-team All-ACC (2014) Third-team All-ACC (2015) First-team Academic All-American (2016) ACC Most Improved Player (2014) ACC All-Freshman team (2013) No. 5 honored by North Carolina Tar Heels McDonald's All-American (2012) First-team Parade All-American (2012) Iowa Mr. Basketball (2012)

Marcus Taylor Paige (born September 11, 1993) is an American basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina. He helped his team, the Tar Heels, reach the 2016 NCAA championship game. Today, he works as an assistant coach for his old college team. Marcus also has Serbian citizenship.

High School Basketball Journey

Marcus Paige was a top basketball player in high school. Experts ranked him as one of the best players in his class. He was even considered the best point guard in 2012.

Leading Linn-Mar High School

In his junior year, Marcus led Linn-Mar High School to an amazing season. His team went undefeated and won the 2011 4-A state title. Scouts noted he was great at handling the ball and could shoot from far away.

Marcus decided to play college basketball for North Carolina. He turned down offers from many other big schools. In his senior year, he was the main player for Linn-Mar. He scored over 28 points per game. He even set a school record by scoring 49 points in one game!

College Basketball Career

Marcus Paige played four years of college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He became a very important player for the team.

Freshman Year Highlights

In his first year, Marcus played in almost every game. He averaged about 8.6 points and 4.6 assists per game. An assist is when you pass the ball to a teammate who then scores. He was good at passing without turning the ball over. He helped the Tar Heels reach the round of thirty-two in the NCAA tournament.

Sophomore Season Success

Marcus got even better in his second year. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.2 assists per game. He shot very well from the field and from the three-point line. He also made almost all of his free throws. He led the Tar Heels to the NCAA tournament again. For his great play, he was named an All-American. He also won the award for the ACC's Most Improved Player.

Junior Year Challenges

In his third year, Marcus's scoring went down a bit. He still averaged 14.1 points and 4.5 assists per game. He shot well from three-point range. He almost broke the school record for most three-pointers in a season. Marcus also earned academic honors for his good grades. He dealt with a foot injury called plantar fasciitis during this season.

Senior Season and Championship Game

Marcus Paige playing in 2016

Before his senior year, Marcus was named the preseason ACC player of the year. He had some struggles with his shooting early on. But he got better later in the season. He broke the UNC record for the most career three-pointers made.

Marcus helped the Tar Heels win the 2016 ACC tournament. They then made it all the way to the 2016 NCAA championship game. They played against Villanova. In that exciting game, Marcus scored 21 points. He made an amazing game-tying three-pointer with only 4.7 seconds left! However, Villanova won the game with a last-second shot.

Professional Basketball Journey

After college, Marcus Paige began his professional basketball career. He played for several teams in different leagues.

Starting with Salt Lake City Stars

In 2016, Marcus was chosen by the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA draft. He was then traded to the Utah Jazz. He later joined the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA Development League (now called the G League). He played 46 games for the Stars, averaging 12.1 points per game.

Time with Charlotte Hornets

In 2017, Marcus signed a special contract with the Charlotte Hornets. This contract allowed him to play for both the Hornets and their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. He played 46 games for the Swarm, averaging 15.2 points.

Playing in Europe with Partizan

In 2018, Marcus moved to Serbia to play for the club Partizan. He played there for three seasons. In 2019, he also became a Serbian citizen. He helped Partizan win the Serbian Cup twice and the ABA League Supercup once.

Later European Teams

After Partizan, Marcus played for Orléans Loiret Basket in France during the 2021–2022 season. Then, in 2022, he joined Monbus Obradoiro in Spain for the 2022–2023 season.

Coaching Career

Returning to North Carolina

In April 2023, Marcus Paige returned to his old college, the University of North Carolina. He joined the coaching staff as the director of team and player development. He helps players improve their skills. In 2024, he became a full assistant coach and started leading the UNC junior varsity team.

Career Statistics

College Stats

Professional Stats

See also

In Spanish: Marcus Paige para niños