PHOENIX, Aug. 23
-- After an impressive performance with the Phoenix Suns' summer league squad in July, guard Paul McPherson signed a contract with the team today.
McPherson paced the Suns' entry in the Rocky Mountain Revue with 18.7 points per game and topped the league in field goal percentage, hitting .619 (26-42) from the field.
"He's shown the ability to be a very good scorer," said Suns coach Scott Skiles. "We feel like he may have something special with regard to his strength and athleticism, and his ability to score."
McPherson's top game during the week-long tournament was a 25-point (12-19 FG), eight-rebound performance against Sacramento. The next night he added 18 points (8-12 FG) and four rebounds in 24 minutes before suffering a sprained ankle. Of his 13 rebounds during the tournament, seven were offensive.
"Intense," said McPherson when asked to describe his game. "I play defense. I'm a physical player. I like to attack the basket ... I smile, I shake hands, I talk a little trash every once in a while, but you know, I just try to leave everything on the court and just have the most fun I can."
The 6-4, 225-pound lefthander, who has the NBA logo tattooed on his left bicep, was an early entry candidate for the 2000 draft, but went unselected. He spent last season at DePaul University, where he averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds alongside L.A. Clippers first-round pick Quentin Richardson. McPherson started 23 of 32 games for the Blue Demons and placed ninth in Conference USA with 1.5 steals per game.
Prior to DePaul, McPherson played in 1998-99 at Kennedy-King Junior College in Chicago, which he led to a fourth-place finish at the 1999 NJCAA Tournament. He paced the tournament in scoring and that season was MVP of the National Junior College All-Star Game. In 1996-97, McPherson played at Tallahassee Junior College and helped the team to a 33-2 record and a third-place finish at the NJCAA Tournament.
Born July 3, 1978 in Chicago, Ill., McPherson was named All-City, All-Area and All-State as a senior at South Shore High School, averaging 24.4 ppg and 12.3 rpg.