University of North Carolina Athletics
Paige Named Preseason AP All-America
November 3, 2014 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL - Marcus Paige is the sixth North Carolina player to earn preseason All-America honors from the Associated Press, earning the honor on Monday with the release of the 2014-15 AP Preseason All-America Team.
The rest of the team includes Wisconsin center forward Frank Kaminsky, Louisville forward Montrezl Harrell, Wichita State junior guard Fred VanVleet and Duke center Jhalil Okafor.
Paige was the leading vote-getter, named on 58 ballots by the 65-member national media panel. Harrell was second with 56 votes.
Paige, a junior point guard from Marion, Iowa, picked up preseason ACC Player of the Year and All-ACC team accolades last week, and he has grabbed preseason All-America honors from various media outlets throughout the preseason.
"It feels pretty good, I guess," Paige said last week upon learning he was voted ACC Player of the Year. "I hope it can translate into some wins. I see they picked us second in the conference and we have goals of finishing higher than that."
Last season, Paige was named second-team All-America by the Sporting News and third-team by Basketball Times. He also was a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America, a first-team All-ACC pick and voted the ACC's Most Improved Player.
He averaged 17.5 points and 4.2 assists and led Carolina in eight statistical categories in 2013-14, including minutes, scoring, field goals, three-point field goals, three-point percentage, free throws, free throw percentage and assists.
Since 1995-96, when the AP started its preseason squad, six Carolina players have earned AP preseason All-America nine times. Tyler Hansbrough was a three-time honoree and Harrison Barnes picked up the honors twice.
Tar Heels to earn AP preseason All-America honors include:
Player: Season(s)
Antawn Jamison: 1997-98
Joseph Forte: 2000-01
Raymond Felton: 2003-04
Tyler Hansbrough: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
Harrison Barnes: 2010-11, 2011-12
Marcus Paige: 2014-15
(team began in 1995-96)
