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Utah State Basketball: In-depth look at senior guard Sam Merrill

By Bryan Mauro

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: The bench celebrates as Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies looks on as they play against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: The bench celebrates as Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies looks on as they play against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies drives as he is pressed by the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies drives as he is pressed by the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Why you should know Merrill

Merrill was able to stay at home and play for his home state school. The native of Bountiful, UT is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even before he arrived on campus, he was already off to complete his Mormon mission in Nicaragua. It was a two-year commitment. The guard started college as a 19-year-old freshman, making him currently one of the older more experienced players in the college game. He will be able to use that to his advantage.

Saying Merrill is experienced because he is older is one thing but backing that up with evidence is another. The guard has played a total of 99 games in his career and enters his fourth year in a Aggie uniform, starting 88 of them. He was inserted into the starting lineup midway through his freshman year and he has remained ever since. It would be hard for any coach to remove a player who can do what Merrill can from the starting lineup even after an off night.

In his career the guard holds averages of 16 points, bolstered by the 21 a game a season ago, He shoots 89% from the line and 42% from the three-point line in his career. The guard is one of the best pure shooters in all of college basketball. Merrill is not just a shooter however; he contributes stats across the board especially on the defensive end of the floor. Over his career he has averaged just over one steal per game to go along with four rebounds and four assists. The Mountain West conference if full of great individual players, but none more impressive than the Senior at Utah State.