MVCfans.com

Rumors swirling that UNI is close to landing 6'6 200lb wing guard Paul Jesperson from UVa.

He has been spotted out on the town with current Panthers, and has been talking with them on twitter (apparently).

He was a top 150 recruit coming out of HS with offers from UVa, Az State, BC, Butler, CMU, Col. St, UWGB, Iowa, Loyola Chicago, UWM, Minnesota, NDSU, UNI, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oregon St, San Diego, S. Dakota St, and preffered walk on from Wisky.



High School
HIGH SCHOOL
• Lettered four times in basketball at Merrill High School for head coach Kurt Soderberg
• Named the Wisconsin Associated Press and Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Merrill High School
• Two-time first-team All-State and three-time first-team All-Wisconsin Valley Conference selection in high school
• Wausau Daily Herald Co-Player of the Year and the WJFW Newswatch 12 Player of the Year
• Finished his high school career as Merrill High School's all-time leading scorer with 1,696 points and made a school-record 96 consecutive starts
• Averaged 22.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals a game as a senior in 2010-11
• Made 45.5 percent (196-431) of his shots from the field, including 36.8 percent (63-171) from three-point range, and shot 81.5 percent (176-216) from the free-throw line
• Merrill reached the state championship Division 2 title game in 2011
• McDonald's All-American nominee
• Participated in the Jack Jones Shootout in Miami, Fla., and had five points and two rebounds
• Averaged 20.5 points and 10.1 rebounds a game as a junior in 2009-10 and was Merrill's Offensive Most Valuable Player
• Attended the 2010 NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp
• Averaged 15.6 points and 7.8 rebounds a game as a sophomore in 2008-09 and was Merrill's Offensive Most Valuable Player
• Averaged 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds a game as a freshman and earned honorable mention All-Conference recognition



2011-12 SEASON
• Originally planned to redshirt, not playing in the first 11 games, before playing in the final 21 games of the season
• Scored 31 points and had 17 rebounds during the season
• Averaged 10.5 minutes played a game
• Scored three points vs. Florida in the NCAA Tournament (3/16/12)
• Had three points vs. #7 North Carolina (2/25/12)
• Scored a season-high seven points, tied a season high with three rebounds and had a season-high three assists at Virginia Tech (2/21/12)
• Had three points and tied a season high with three rebounds vs. Maryland (2/18/12)
• Grabbed a season-high three rebounds and had his first career block vs. Wake Forest (2/8/12)
• Scored six points and had two rebounds at Georgia Tech (1/19/12)
• Had two points at #8 Duke (1/12/12)
• Scored two points vs. Miami (1/7/12)
• Made collegiate debut vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore (12/27/12), scoring five points
• Lettered

2012-13 SEASON
• Played 35 games and started 33 games
• Averaged 25.7 minutes per game
• Averaged 4.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game
• Shot 36.1 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line
• Scored a career-high 12 points on a career-best four 3-pointers at Maryland (2/10/13)
• Set career highs in rebounds (7) and steals (3) vs. Boston College (1/26/13)
• Recorded a career-high five assists vs. Seattle (11/17/12)
• Scored 11 points vs. Morgan State (12/19/12)
• Tallied nine points, five rebounds, two blocked shots and one steal vs. Lamar (11/19/12)
• Made at least one 3-pointer in 12 consecutive games from Feb. 3-March 15
• Made three of more 3-pointers in five games
• Lettered


His numbers at UVa aren't great, but it sounds like he was playing out of position a lot, at the 4, instead of his natural 2/3 and was used as a defensive stopper, UVa HC Bennett praised his defense.


Would be eligible in 14/15 with 2 years left.

Sounds like it's between UNI and SLU.


Wisconsin sites are saying they feel it's going to be UNI based on prior relationship UNI coaching staff/campus with previous recruiting.

sounds as though it's a done deal....

It's done.

Announced sometime this week.

Huge, HUGE get.

Good for UNI. He fits in exactly to what they do there. He should have gone there in the first place.

These players would be so much better off if they just picked a school that was a good fit for them in the first place instead of jumping all over the first BCS chance they get.

Anyway, good for UNI!

Played in a Thanksgiving showcase in Central Illinois his senior year. Sweet stroke but struggled to get his shot off against the better competition. His size on the perimeter will be a great asset in the MVC. His brother, David, is a 2013 recruit; very similar player from what I remember.

Congrats to UNI on the pick-up. 2014-15 eligible?

Yeah 14-15 eligible. Didn't use a redshirt at UVa, so he will be a JR for us in 14.

This is a GREAT grab.

In 2014 our back court is going to be very scary

Deon Mitchell - SR
Paul Jeserpsen - JR
Wes Washpun - JR
Matt Bohannon - JR

Plus the guys we will have coming in this year.


Along with post players like Tuttle, Koch, and Carlson......

Exciting times to be a Panther fan right now.

This is not finalized yet. It's close, and UNI appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for him, but I wouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves until its announced.

Would be an awesome signing though.