UNC basketball legend returning to Tar Heels

UNC basketball is bringing back a legend as former Tar Heels star Marcus Paige will join the program as a part of Hubert Davis’ staff.

The newcomers joining UNC basketball will be huge for the Tar Heels in the 2023-24 season under Hubert Davis, particularly with the latest transfer portal additions of Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram. With those two players likely comprising part of the starting lineup with Armando Bacot and RJ Davis, things are looking up.

Now a North Carolina legend, one whose jersey hangs in the rafters of the Dean Dome, is getting in on the fun.

Marcus Paige, who played for the Tar Heels under Roy Williams from 2012-16, is joining Hubert Davis’ staff, as reported by Inside Carolina. Paige, who most recently played professionally in Spain and France, will fill the role that was previously occupied by another former UNC basketball player, Jackie Manuel, as the director of player and team development before leaving for an assistant coaching role at American University.

UNC basketball rumors: Marcus Paige returning to Tar Heels

Paige was extremely productive as a southpaw point guard at North Carolina. His last moment with the Tar Heels, unfortunately, was providing an ultimate high before devastating heartbreak in the 2016 title game as he drilled an off-balanced, split-legged 3-pointer to take a lead over Villanova before Kris Jenkins tore the souls from Tar Heels fans’ bodies.

Joining Davis’ staff, though not on the bench, is more of the same for the UNC basketball family, though. Sean May serves as an assistant coach, Davis himself played in Chapel Hill, and there is a long line of former players returning to begin their own coaching careers or even work up the ranks.

Paige comes into the program at an obviously interesting time after the team’s dismal 2022-23 season as Davis is rebuilding the roster on the fly, largely through the transfer portal. With his new role, though, perhaps he can have a hand in getting North Carolina back on the right track.

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