One more go-around for Linn-Mar's Paige

MARION - He's an all-American prep basketball player, as you know. By virtually every account, he's an all-American kid.

But there's something about Marcus Paige that's not at the all-American level.

"The room is a disaster," said his father, Ellis. "He's that kid. It's a disastrous room. That's one thing in his life that's not in order."

"It's a hot mess," agreed mom, Sherryl. "I tell him I worry about him when he goes to North Carolina. I tell him 'Who is going to pick up after you?' Other than that, he's very organized. But his room is tornado central."

Marcus just smiles when the subject is brought up. He can't deny it's true.

"Shoes thrown everywhere," he said. "Practice gear, a bunch of clothes just thrown all over my floor."

Hey, forgive him. If that's the worst thing you can say about the Linn-Mar senior and UNC signee, he's doing more than all right.

Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson was asked if his point guard is as great a kid off the court as everyone says.

"Better," Robertson said. "As great a basketball player as he is, he's an even better person. So humble, nice to everyone."

That comes from mom and dad.

Ellis and Sherryl Paige met at Mount Mercy College, where they played basketball. Sheryl was a good all-around athlete at Starmont High School, Ellis played hoops at Chicago's Crane High School with former NBAers Kenny Norman and Cory Blackwell.

Those are some good hoops genes. No wonder Marcus and his sister, Morgan (a sophomore at Wisconsin) are D-I college players.

"When Marcus and Morgan were young, I worked second shift," Ellis Paige said. "Marcus always had a ball in his hand. Always. At the time, I was in love with the Chicago Bulls, so I would tape games. He was like 2-years-old, but he'd sit on the couch and literally watch the whole game with me."

"Basketball was always around me because my parents loved the game so much," Marcus said. "So I was always at the gym or it was always on TV at the house. I guess I just developed a liking to it. And as I got better as a player, I tried to watch it more and more to learn things. That has helped out a lot."

But it's never been just about hoops in the tight-knit Paige family. Sherryl was a teacher and head varsity girls' coach at Marion before giving it up two years ago in order to watch more of her children's games.

She continues to work as a tutor.

"We've always stressed academics and character first. Basketball was secondary," Sherryl Paige said. "Marcus was always a gym rat. He'd be at my varsity practices, doing the drills. He could just not stay away. But we would just constantly tell him 'You know what, you have to be a good person first. Period. Because if you're not, you're not leaving the house.'"

"I don't know if I've ever seen him put himself into a situation where you would think anything less (of him)," Ellis Paige said. "All we ever hear is how nice of a young man he is. If I could sum up Marcus, I would just say he is a warm-hearted, genuine person who happens to be very good at basketball."

Always a North Carolina fan, Marcus committed to the Tar Heels after receiving a scholarship offer last fall. UNC Coach Roy Williams told The Gazette/Iowa Prep Sports on signing day two weeks ago that he loves the way Paige always seems to be in control on the court and how he looks pass first, yet also can score.

Paige said his expectation is to play all four years at North Carolina, though the NBA is his dream. While he's athletic, can dunk and is left-handed, he's only 6-foot, so that will work against him when it comes to pro ball.

"I remember the UCLA coaches telling me last fall when they were recruiting him that he's definitely a three-year guy," Robertson said. "I asked them what they meant, and they said he'll play three years and then go to the NBA. That was the first time I had heard something like that."

That stuff is a long way off, though, with Linn-Mar's season having priority right now. Paige is the only returning starter from last year's undefeated Class 4A state championship team.

Linn-Mar has made state eight consecutive years, placing fourth or better in all eight.

"I'll have to be more aggressive, score the ball more," said Paige, who averaged 17 points per game in 2010-11. "But at the same time, we've got guys who can hit shots, got guys who are ready to step up."

Maybe some of them could help you clean your room, right, Marcus?

"Ellis and I have been blessed, very fortunate," Sherryl Paige said. "We went into an inter-racial marriage and always told our kids that you're not going to have the best of both worlds. There are going to be some people that are going to criticize. But we never wanted them to feel like they didn't belong anywhere. They've really embraced who they are as individuals."