Marcus Paige

[hawkfarmer]

How great would it be for him to snub KU and UNC and come to Iowa and be the hero?

He's been to KU for midnight madness and is scheduling a visit to UNC (per tos).

That would be 2 feathers in Fran's hat.

 

[DodgerHawki]

He would be a program changer...

How great would it be for him to snub KU and UNC and come to Iowa and be the hero?

He's been to KU for midnight madness and is scheduling a visit to UNC (per tos).

That would be 2 feathers in Fran's hat.

would take Iowa from rebuilding mode into serious contention mode, especially if Woodbury also was part of the 2012 class. Turning down KU and/or UNC would be quite difficult, as you are practically guaranteed to be in the NCAA tournament every year.

 

[BostonHeel]

How great would it be for him to snub KU and UNC and come to Iowa and be the hero?

He's been to KU for midnight madness and is scheduling a visit to UNC (per tos).

That would be 2 feathers in Fran's hat.

This has a better chance of happening than most people think. Kansas took a point guard in '11, and it isn't clear that Paige is better.

UNC already has an offer out to a pg in the '12 class, LJ Rose, a kid from Texas.

There are just 2 reasons for him to pick Iowa. There is plenty more, and you have 2 terrific recruiters on the job.

 

[HAWKEYESTATE4ever]

Ain't happening. But for those of you that have yet to see Marcus play, he will be in Waukee November 30 for the season opener.

 

[crabshack]

would it be great for iowa, yes. but I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet. you all saw what happened this past year when Cyclone fans got themselves all in a tizzy thinking barnes might possibly commit.

I highly doubt a kid is choosing Iowa over KU or UNC. letting an exhibition win go to your heads a little are you?

 

[1977Hawkeye]

The winning Powerball ticket would also be nice.. Doesn't mean it's going to happen. I will truly be floored if we beat out everyone for Paige.. I guess my thought is that I'm assuming he goes elsewhere, and if he commits to Iowa, then fantastic. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[iHawk]

would it be great for iowa, yes. but I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet. you all saw what happened this past year when Cyclone fans got themselves all in a tizzy thinking barnes might possibly commit.

I highly doubt a kid is choosing Iowa over KU or UNC. letting an exhibition win go to your heads a little are you?

Not going to our heads, but we are hopeful that actually seeing McCaffery's up-tempo style of play in action will help some kids realize that things are indeed different in Iowa City under McCaffery than what we had under Lick. It's a more exciting style of ball, the fans will be back in Carver very soon, and we are hopeful that some of our own will stay home to have some fun and take part.

I don't care who it was against, I was VERY excited to see Iowa put 111 points on the board. It brought back a lot of great memories of Iowa Basketball from when I was a kid. I want to see that again - and more importantly I want my kids to see and enjoy that too!

Although it would be great, I'm not sure that Marcus Paige will take part in Iowa's efforts. I don't know him, so I don't know his personality type. He'd have to WANT to be a leader and an agent of change; and be the type of confident person who takes great pride in where he's from and in being an Iowan.

 

[HawkinGoferLand]

He's Iowa's to lose...

ok, I made that up. sorry

 

[AHawk1]

I watched him last Sunday again in Van Colemans recruiting show case. He continues to get better. Looks like he's getting a little stronger. Most all the top players from around the area were there, except Woodbury.

 

[woodyk1]

Linn Mar beats Waukee tonight. Hoiberg, Self, and UCLA assistant at the game.

Linn-Mar boys top Waukee, with college basketball coaches in crowd | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register

Did anyone go to this game?

 

[deanvogs]

I went. Here is my assessment, keep in mind, I'm no expert!

Weakness:
-Smaller kid, and by that I would guess he is 6' 175. He is only a JR., so he has time to gain some strength.
-Was surprised that he didn't play the PG position exclusively. They had a smaller kid come in and play the PG position. I don't know if it is to get the D to stop focusing so much on Paige, doesn't make sense to let an inferior PG handle those duties....
-Part of the size issue will be can he get to the rim in the Big10? In Iowa HS BB, no problem, he is quicker then everyone on the court....He won't be at the D1 level, and he won't be stronger (at this point anyway) than any of them.
-Didn't always seem like he was into the game when not at the PG position, by that I mean I thought he was lazy moving without the ball.

Strong points:
-When going to the basket, they couldn't stop him, and he got fouls called for him, and he hit every FT he took, except 1 I believe. He will be able to get to the rim with his quickness, that shouldn't be a problem. (strength is another story)
-Really, really smooth looking on the floor. Didn't look like much effort, because he is just soooooo smooth when he plays. From when he dribbles, to when he takes a shot, to playing D.
-Very nice shot from the outside. he didn't take many, but he did make the ones he took it seemed, didn't seem to miss in shoot around before the game.
-Saw the court well, passed well, and didn't ball hog, just played with the flow of the game. I think this can be difficult in HS since he is obviously the most talented kid on his team, and on the floor for that matter.
-All in all was impressed by him. Looks like he could take over a game when needed. Against Waukee, he basically drove to the basket at will, and got to the foul line. I think the majority of his points came from FT. He didn't seem like he was dominating, yet you look up and he has 20+ points....

I am very concerned by his size and strength. That said, coaches who do this on a day in and day out basis don't seem like they are concerned about this, so maybe I'm making too much of it. I'm sure he can move without the ball much better than he showed tonight....So all in all, he is a very, very good BB player. Even my untrained eye can see why so many coaches are going after this kid!

 

[thejumper5]

I went. Here is my assessment, keep in mind, I'm no expert!

Weakness:
-Smaller kid, and by that I would guess he is 6' 175. He is only a JR., so he has time to gain some strength.

...

I am very concerned by his size and strength. That said, coaches who do this on a day in and day out basis don't seem like they are concerned about this, so maybe I'm making too much of it. I'm sure he can move without the ball much better than he showed tonight....So all in all, he is a very, very good BB player. Even my untrained eye can see why so many coaches are going after this kid!

Kalin Lucas of Michigan State is only 6', maybe 190 and he was the Big 10's MVP. Dee Brown from Illinois was similarly sized and he was the nation POY for some organizations. I think as a collegiate PG, this kind of size isn't really a huge problem. You're right, its all about strength, but I think a year or two in a top notch S&C program and Paige would be a conference MVP caliber player.

 

[TrustKF]

You don't need to be concerned about his size, cause he's not going to Iowa. There is absolutely no possible way, the kid has never ever been high on Iowa, and he's from Linn-Mar so he is looking to go to a stable program. Also you've got to be kidding me saying he would not be the quickest player on the court. If though by some miracle, a huge miracle, Iowa lands him, then Iowa will suddenly be a legitimate Big Ten title contender.

 

[tm3308]

You don't need to be concerned about his size, cause he's not going to Iowa. There is absolutely no possible way, the kid has never ever been high on Iowa, and he's from Linn-Mar so he is looking to go to a stable program. Also you've got to be kidding me saying he would not be the quickest player on the court. If though by some miracle, a huge miracle, Iowa lands him, then Iowa will suddenly be a legitimate Big Ten title contender.

1. Would YOU have been "high on Iowa" at any point in the last 3 years (coincidentally, that covers Paige's career from 8th grade through his sophomore year)?

2. Being the quickest player for Iowa wouldn't make him the quickest player on the floor. He's going to be the best and quickest player on the floor every night at Linn-Mar. Put him in the Big Ten and match him up against guys like Kalin Lucas, and that's not the case anymore (same goes for Big 12/ACC).

 

[deanvogs]

You don't need to be concerned about his size, cause he's not going to Iowa. There is absolutely no possible way, the kid has never ever been high on Iowa, and he's from Linn-Mar so he is looking to go to a stable program. Also you've got to be kidding me saying he would not be the quickest player on the court. If though by some miracle, a huge miracle, Iowa lands him, then Iowa will suddenly be a legitimate Big Ten title contender.

I don't think on a night in, night out basis he is the quickest player on the court in the Big10/ACC/Big12 at this point. Now keep in mind he is a JR. in HS, and I am basing it on that. So by the time he is a SO/JR in college he will probably be the quickest on the court. Plus I saw the kid play one game, and like I said, I am no expert, and I don't try to act like I am.....

I wasn't trying to knock the kid at all, he is legit, and will be a difference maker. One player though, will not make or break Iowa. Look at Wake from last night, with a 5* kid and 3 4* kids, and they still stink. There is only so much one player can do on the court.......

 

[TChawk]

How great would it be for him to snub KU and UNC and come to Iowa and be the hero?

He's been to KU for midnight madness and is scheduling a visit to UNC (per tos).

That would be 2 feathers in Fran's hat.

Not going to happen, there is about a zero percent chance he comes to Iowa.

 

[westview]

Why would he want to come to IOwa and be ripped upon like Gatens is.

 

[clicheusername3]

Why would he want to come to IOwa and be ripped upon like Gatens is.

Oh FFS Im so sick of the whining about the players being picked on. High level BBall players have their games ripped apart from probably the 7th grade and maybe earlier if they have an overbearing parent pushing them. Matt Gatens will be the same player no matter how many times anonymous internet people rip on him.

 

[9YRPLAN]

how did bohannon look? he picked UNI over Creighton

 

[PlanoHawk]

I went. Here is my assessment, keep in mind, I'm no expert!

Weakness:
-Part of the size issue will be can he get to the rim in the Big10?

Strong points:
He will be able to get to the rim with his quickness, that shouldn't be a problem. (strength is another story)

I'm not cutting you down here- but didn't you just list the same to things as strengths and weaknesses? Or are you saying he has the quickness to get to the rim- the strength is another story?