Sam Merrill
Updated as of 11/21/2020, scouting report written by Alan Lu.
2020 rankings were finalized on 11/17/20.
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205
College: Utah State
Classification: Senior
Birthdate: 5/16/1996
2020 Top 100 Prospect Rank: 65
Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted
2020 NBA Draft: Round 2, Pick 60 by the New Orleans Pelicans
(Rights traded to the Milwaukee Bucks)
Pros:
Very good shooter, especially from deep
Crafty scorer off the dribble
Terrific free throw shooter
Solid playmaker
Adequate defender
Smart player that has a good feel for the game
Cons:
May struggle to get all the way to the basket
Needs to improve his rebounding
Does not collect enough steals or blocks
May struggle to guard quicker players
Not an elite athlete
Old for a draft prospect, may have limited upside
Summary:
Sam Merrill is a smart, skilled combo guard that can shoot and pass the basketball. He is a crafty player that can score in a variety of ways, and he also can ably run the point if called upon to do so. He may only be an average athlete, but he is a deceptively quick player that can find ways to get to where he needs on the court, and he is a second round prospect that could end up thriving as a role player in the NBA.
Links:
ESPN’s Article on Merrill in the MWC Tournament
Highlights of the 3/7/20 Utah State-San Diego State Game from Stadium via YouTube
Games Scouted:
1/25/20 Utah State vs. Colorado State
If you use any portion of this material, please credit NBA Scouting Live.
