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Paul Jesperson (born December 2, 1992) is an American former basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Valley Suns of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Northern Iowa Panthers.

College career

Jesperson attended Merrill High School where he became the schools all-time leading scorer. Jesperson attended the University of Virginia for two years before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa.

In an NCAA tournament game versus the sixth-seeded University of Texas Jesperson hit a half-court buzzer beating shot to win the game. The shot was featured in the 2016 edition of One Shining Moment.

Freshman season

Jesperson averaged 10.5 minutes, 1.5 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game.

Sophomore season

Jesperson averaged 25.7 minutes, 4.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.

Junior season

Jesperson averaged 18.2 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game.

Senior season

Jesperson averaged 30.3 minutes, 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. In the Round of 64, he made a buzzer beater from half court to beat Texas 75–72.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Jesperson signed with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League on October 31, 2016. On November 15, he made his professional debut in a 152–128 win over the Maine Red Claws, playing two minutes off the bench. Seven days later, he was waived by the Vipers. On November 30, Jesperson signed with Spanish team Oviedo CB until the end of the 2016–17 season. In January 2017, he won with the club the Copa Princesa de Asturias.

Coaching career

On October 31, 2024, Jesperson was hired to be an assistant coach by the Valley Suns of the NBA G League.

References

1. Rawlings, Gracie. "Oklahoma basketball hires Paul Jesperson as director of player development". OUDaily.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
2. VanTryon, Matthew. "This isn't the first time UNI's Paul Jesperson has been a buzzer-beating hero". SportingNews. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
3. "Paul Jesperson transfers to N. Iowa". ESPN. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
4. Skurzewski, Mitchell. "Paul Jesperson caps career in tourney". Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
5. Staples, Andy. "One Shining Shot: Jesperson adds latest buzzer beater to UNI lore". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
6. Trotter, Jake. "Inside Paul Jesperson's miracle heave that lifted UNI, stunned Texas". ESPN. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
7. ^ "Paul Jesperson Statistics". Washington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
8. Chagollan, Anwar (October 31, 2016). "Vipers perform trade with Erie and finalize training camp roster". NBA.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
9. "Wiltjer Leads Vipers' Offensive Onslaught". NBA.com. November 15, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
10. "RGV Vipers Acquire Forward Chris Johnson". OurSportsCentral.com. November 23, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
11. "El Unión Financiera Oviedo incorpora a Paul Jesperson". ACB.com (in Spanish). November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
12. Skurzewski, Mitchell A. (December 2, 2016). "Merrill native signs pro basketball deal". WausauDailyHerald.com. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
13. "Valley Suns Announce Head Coach John Little's Coaching Staff". NBA.com. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.

External links

• Northern Iowa Panthers bio

• 1992 births
• Living people
• 21st-century American sportsmen
• American expatriate basketball people in Spain
• American men's basketball players
• Basketball players from Wisconsin
• Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball players
• Oviedo CB players
• People from Merrill, Wisconsin
• Rio Grande Valley Vipers players
• Shooting guards
• Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball players