Former star guard among latest class

Lester Paige is known for two things: wearing those purple and white psychedelic socks and his nickname, "Peter Rabbit."

Today, he will simply be known as a Hall of Famer.

Paige is one of five inductees in this year's Paine College Hall of Fame class. A ceremony will be held at 8:30 this morning at the school's Candler Memorial Library and Conference Center on campus. Tickets are $15.

"This lets me know my college, my home, I'm going to be a part of its history," Paige said. "I accept this honor for all the young players I played with and for coach Tolbert."

The Hall of Fame class also includes Ann McGruder-Dixon, Meria Alexander-Strange, Denard Morton and former coach Ernest Tolbert, who will be inducted posthumously.

McGruder-Dixon won two most valuable player awards and led the Lions in rebounding from 1976-80. She graduated cum laude in 1980 with a history degree.

Paige, who also graduated with a history degree, transferred to Paine in 1971 from Southern University. He graduated from St. Pius X High School in Savannah, Ga.

At Paine, the 6-foot guard dazzled with his style of up-tempo play. Paige is believed to be the South's leading scorer from 1971-74 with more than 3,100 career points for the Lions.

"I can handle the ball like the Globe-trotters, and I can shoot like Michael Jordan," Paige said.

"If the 3-pointer would've been in play when I was in college, I would've scored 8,000 points."

His teammates gave him a new moniker based on his speed, saying, "That guy can run like a rabbit."

Paige, who also pitched for the school's first baseball team in 1974, graduated later that year. He went on to become a history teacher. Paige also played professional basketball for three seasons with the Washington Metros.

In 1992, Paige began playing with the American Mini-Trotters, the world's smallest basketball team. The 58-year-old Paige, considered the "Clown Prince of Midget Basketball," said he has spoken to more than five million children in the team's existence. The main item he tries to instill: education.

"The main emphasis is to do the right thing," he said. "If you go to school and listen to your teacher, you'll be all right."

Paige currently works as a salesman at Kia of Augusta. He also has a role working as a drill sergeant type under Lt. Col. Janet Zimmerman at the Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy.

Paige, who has a goal of opening a school that teaches basketball and morals, gives credit to his alma mater for his life's direction.

"If it wasn't for Paine College," he said, "I wouldn't be the man I am today."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.