DRAFT TRADE: Traded to Milwaukee Bucks along with Jrue Holiday in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first-round picks, and two additional Draft pick swaps. 

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About Sam Merrill

Career Highlights

• 2019-20 USBWA District VIII Player of the Year.
• 2018-19 Mountain West Player of the Year.
• Two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection (2018-19, 2019-20).
• Two-time Mountain West Tournament MVP (2019, 2020).
• Earned 2018-19 AP Honorable Mention honors.
• All-District pick by the USBWA and NABC as a junior and senior.

Senior (2019-20)

• Ranked second in the Mountain West with 19.7 points to go with 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
• Shot 46.1 percent from the field, 41.0 percent from three-point range (23rd in the nation) and 89.3 percent from the free throw line (11th in the nation).
• Tied for 26th in the nation in free throws made (150) and tied for 32nd in three-pointers made (89).
• Scored 27 points and made the game-winning shot in the MW Tournament title game vs. San Diego State (March 7).
• Had a season-high 32 points at Colorado State (Feb. 11).

Strengths

• Prolific shooter with deep range.
• Has the ability to shoot on the move.
• Creative with the ball in his hands.
• Outstanding free throw shooter.

Personal

• Named 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American and CoSIDA Second Team Academic All American.
• Served a two-year LDS Church mission in Nicaragua from 2014-16.
• Married Kanyan Ward, who played soccer at Utah State, in 2018.

Quotable 

“He is the most unselfish star that I’ve ever coached in [24] years. He gives our guys so much confidence. Everyone talks about how good he is on offense, but he is just as good of a defensive player. He does it all. He is so intelligent. Our guys love him to death.”

- Utah State coach Craig Smith