LOCALS IN THE NBA
Report: Utah State & Bountiful Great Sam Merrill Finds New NBA Home
Aug 13, 2022, 6:22 PM
Sam Merrill #25 of the Memphis Grizzlies rests during a break in the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on November 05, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – After being released by the Memphis Grizzlies in January, Sam Merrill has reportedly reached a deal with the Sacramento Kings.
NBA Insider Chris Haynes first reported the signing via Twitter on Friday, August 12.
.@smerrill05 @nemi1599
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š TRUE KINGS š https://t.co/Pzh8CPVFpo— Utah State Athletics (@USUAthletics) August 12, 2022
The deal reunites Merrill with his former Utah State teammate Neemias Queta. Sacramento selected Queta with the 39th pick of the 2021 NBA draft.
The one-time NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Merrill last played in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2021-22 season.
About Sam Merrill
A three-year varsity letter winner and 2014 Utah 4A MVP, Merrill spent his prep career with the Bountiful Braves. Led Bountiful to the 4A state title as a senior while averaging 15.8 points, 7.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.
Merrill joined the Utah State basketball program in 2016 and set about re-writing much of the Aggie record books.
One of the best to ever play at Utah State, Merrillās name is all over the Aggie basketball record books. He is first in career free throw percentage (.891), and second in career points (2,197), career assists (477), career three-point field goals (319), three-point field goals attempted (759), 10-point games (108), and minutes played (4,360).
His Utah State career ended with Merrill hitting a last second three-pointer against San Diego State in the 2020 Mountain West conference championship game to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for Merrill and the Aggies, Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 season before another game was played.
Why not? Utah State Star Sam Merrill buries a monster three w/ 3 secs left! Aggies up 3 now one last chance for San Diego State. #MWC2020 #MWMadness ā¦@TheVegasTakeā© ā¦@KDWNLasVegasā© pic.twitter.com/uURmvTWPSI
— Chris Winn (@ChristianWinn) March 8, 2020
Merrill was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 60th pick of 2020 NBA draft and ended up winning a title with the Bucks during his rookie season.
A 6-4 guard, Merrill was acquired via trade by the Memphis Grizzlies from the Bucks on August 7, 2021. He had played in six games for the Grizzlies this season and averaged 4.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game.
Sacramento begins their preseason schedule on Monday, October 3 in Los Angeles against LeBron James and the Lakers.
