The North Carolina Tar Heels are replacing Kendall Marshall who departed after a wildly successful sophomore season for the NBA with incoming freshman Marcus Paige. Paige, like Marshall, comes to UNC as a nice prospect with a few question marks surrounding his game.
Marshall was able to become a superstar in Carolina working off his strengths and not allowing his weaknesses to hinder his game, or the Heels. Marshall was so important to the Tar Heels that the minute he was injured in the NCAA Tournament, everyone knew deep down if he didn’t return, Carolinas national title hopes were gone.
Roy Williams has not only learned his lesson in this case. He also must have complete confidence that Paige will be long gone by 2014, would should be his junior year in Chapel Hill. Roy officially extended offers to two point guards in the 2014 class Tyus Jones, the top player at the position in the class and Joel Berry III another big time prospect and Tar Heel fan growing up.
With Nate Britt, a five star stud prospect himself coming right behind Paige in 2013, one would have to be gone by 2014 for the numbers to work. Programs obviously have a limited number of scholarships and Roy Williams is not one to over offer and end up in a roster mess. Holding three scholarship PGs just isn’t realistic.
It’s pretty safe to say that Paige will remain the starter in 2013 over the freshman Britt after a year of seasoning under his belt, it won’t be Britt bolting for the NBA after just one season. The only logical conclusion to the offers made to Berry and Jones is that Roy’s vision for the 2014 team has Paige in the NBA.
Paige 6-0, 160 is a natural floor general and a terrific leader on the court. An outstanding scorer, Paige can create his own how and is excellent on the catch and shoot. A very good passer with excellent hands and finishing ability. Paige needs to bulk up in the upper body and make up for his less than dazzling speed at the next level. A big time scorer in high school, Paige could be an instant dual threat at the next level. As much talent as he has, he could face some bumps at the next level beating the press and on the defensive end of the floor.
Given the landscape of today’s college basketball, it’s not a huge leap to say a talented PG from a national contender such as UNC will go pro after two seasons. Paige is as good of a candidate to replace Marshall and lead the Heels and if he does and proves he can win then Roy’s bet will prove correct.
I’m not saying I disagree with the approach and I certainly would hate to see UNC in the spot it was in last year with the depth issues at the most important position for their system on the court. But at the same time, it’s hard to overlook the obvious, three big time PGs in three years, could lead to three PGs and only one ball in 2014.
Roy Williams is taking a more aggressive approach all around on the recruiting scene this year and the adjustment in style makes it tougher and tougher to figure out his strategy. Tar Heel fans should be ready for anything as the summer winds down.
What do you think will happen next?
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