Marcus Paige Returns to Chapel Hill

He’s back! Marcus Paige, the four-year North Carolina point guard has returned to Chapel Hill and joined Hubert Davis’ coaching staff as Director of Team and Player Development.

Marcus Paige Was a Great Tar Heel

Remembering the 2009 and 2017 North Carolina Men’s basketball teams is easy. Both were dominant and featured a plethora of Tar Heel legends. Most importantly, each season ended in a national championship.

The seasons bridging the gap between those two wonderful campaigns are more of a mixed bag. There were the highs of 2011 and 2012 followed by the lows of 2013 and 2014. After losing to Iowa State in the 2014 round of 32, a championship felt as far away as ever.

It was Paige who led the charge pulling North Carolina out of the (relative) abyss. Close your eyes and you can still picture his feet gliding forward as he steps into a 3-pointer with his smooth, lefty stroke. Or grabbing a rebound and pushing the ball up the court with a casual two-handed flick pass. The Tar Heels improved upon their previous season’s success every year Paige was at North Carolina, culminating in a Finals loss that is painfully embroiled in the brain of every person reading this.

What Could He Bring?

First and foremost, Paige knows what it takes to succeed at a blue-blood program like North Carolina. Having someone like him instill a positive mentality in new recruits will be a welcome addition.

In addition, Paige is EXACTLY the type of player the Tar Heels could use right now. As a Tar Heel, his two biggest strengths were his ability to shoot the ball (both off-the-catch as a spacer and on the move) and how he dictated the pace. I believe North Carolina needs to modernize its style of play and place a bigger emphasis on the importance of shooting.

Could Paige’s return to Chapel Hill have a similar effect that his initial arrival did in 2013? I believe so.

Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Marcus Paige (5) makes a late game tying shot against the Villanova Wildcats in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four at NRG Stadium. Villanova won 77-74. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports