Former Aggie Sam Merrill lands in Milwaukee
With the 60th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Sam Merrill from Utah State University. Technically, the New Orleans Pelicans took the former Aggie with the final pick of the draft, but reports indicate that the Pelicans are sending the rights to Merrill to Wisconsin.
Congrats Sam. You earned it. pic.twitter.com/yVdOUY5tB1
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) November 19, 2020
Wednesday night Merrill became the first Aggie to be drafted to the NBA since Greg Grant in 1986. Grant was picked by the Detroit Pistons in the sixth round, making Merrill the first Utah State player drafted in the new draft era of just two rounds (since 1989). The native of Bountiful, Utah was a highly decorated player player at USU throughout his four seasons. Merrill was the 2019 Mountain West Player of the Season, a two-time Mountain West first team selection (2019, 2020), a two-time Mountain West Tournament MVP (2019, 2020) and the man who dropped one of the most memorable shots in Utah State history.
SAM MERRILL. ICE IN HIS VEINS. ❄️
Cc: @USUBasketball pic.twitter.com/zxjMk87UfS
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 8, 2020
The Aggies’ career leader in free throw percentage (89.1%) also finished second in career scoring behind another prominent Aggie guard, Jaycee Carroll, along with being second in assists, minutes played, three point field goals made and attempted and minutes. Coming into the draft, The Athletic NBA writer Sam Vecenie had positive things to say about the 24-year-old guard.
“He’s an absolutely elite level shooter who has an immediately translatable NBA skill because he can do it off of movement, off the catch, or off the bounce,” Vecenie wrote. “He’s another player who has a case as the best shooter in the draft.”
Over the months leading up to the NBA Draft, Merrill drastically improved his stock, moving up from the late 60’s to the middle of the second round a few weeks before draft day. Merrill not only offers superb offensive ability, but is considered a strong defender who can guard players one-on-one just as well as in a zone defense.