Sam Merrill Taken First By Cleveland Charge In G-League Draft

Oct 22, 2022, 6:37 PM | Updated: Nov 7, 2022, 2:34 pm

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Sam Merrill #20 of the Sacramento Kings poses for a picture during the Kings Media Day on September 26, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

BY BRIAN PREECE

Digital Producer

SALT LAKE CITY – Former Bountiful High and Utah State basketball star Sam Merrill has been drafted No. 1 overall in the G-League draft by the Cleveland Charge.

The G-League draft was held on Saturday, October 22.

Sam Merrill is headed to the @ChargeCLE. The No. 60 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft goes No. 1 in the 2022 NBA G League Draft. 👏 pic.twitter.com/fFIQy11L27

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) October 22, 2022

Merrill had played three games with the Sacramento Kings during the preseason. With Sacramento, Merrill averaged four points and 1.3 rebounds per game before being cut by the Kings.

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, Merrill’s 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 ⁦@TheVegasTake⁩ ⁦@KDWNLasVegas⁩ 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 before being waived, averaging 4.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game.