ACC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

22. Marcus Paige

A Top 30 recruit way back in 2012, Paige is a 6’1 point guard originally from Marion, Iowa who had quite the ride with the Tar Heels. He spent four seasons at North Carolina and ran the offense for his entire tenure, starting all but two of his 141 career games, including some prominent moments in the NCAA Tournament.

Paige was solid as a freshman, though we’re more focused on his seasons in the last decade. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.2 assists in a breakout sophomore season, including a career-high 35 points in a win at NC State. He helped lead the Tar Heels to the Sweet Sixteen during a solid junior season before ending his career on a high note. He didn’t have his best shooting season as a senior, but he did lead North Carolina to the national championship game, hitting the game-tying shot with mere seconds left before a stunning loss to Villanova in 2016.

Paige was First Team All-ACC during that sophomore season and was a vital piece of the Tar Heels program for his entire time in Chapel Hill. His off-balance game-tying shot in the title game remains a piece of March Madness lore and his overall contributions to basketball at North Carolina were fantastic. He is one of many great Tar Heels to play under Roy Williams.