Sam Merrill

Born on May 15, 1996, Samuel Hoskins Merrill, or Sam Merrill as he’s popularly known, is an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Merrill, the son of John and Jenny Merrill, grew up in Bountiful, Utah alongside his older sister, Molli. His journey with basketball began in high school, where he demonstrated immense potential at the game.

Sam attended Bountiful High School, where his skills on the court began to flourish. As a sophomore, he averaged 6.5 points per game and 2.6 assists, eventually becoming a starter at the season’s midpoint. His improvement continued in his junior year as he averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game. His performance earned him the first-team all-state from both the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune.

In his senior year, Merrill’s stats grew as he posted 15.8 points, 7.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, leading Bountiful to a 4A state title. Despite being recruited by Stanford and Princeton, he committed to Utah State University (USU).

Before joining USU, Merrill took a sabbatical to serve on a two-year mission to Nicaragua for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, USU’s basketball program underwent a significant change with head coach Stew Morrill retiring and being replaced by Tim Duryea. Despite this transition, Merrill continued to excel on the court, scoring an average of 9.4 points per game as a freshman.

Merrill’s growth continued in his sophomore year as he averaged 16.3 points per game and was named Third-Team All-Mountain West Conference (MWC). In May 2018, he married soccer player Kanyan Ward, marking another milestone in his personal life.

In his junior year, Merrill’s numbers continued to improve, averaging 20.9 points, 4.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 46.1 percent from the field and an impressive 37.6 percent from behind the three-point line. He ended his junior year with the MWC Player of the Year and tournament MVP titles. He also made it to the AP Honorable Mention All-American list, capping off a significant season by scoring a career-high 38 points in a 100–96 overtime victory against CSU.

From there, it was onward and upward for Sam Merrill. In his senior year, he was instrumental in leading USU to another MWC tournament championship, which would have led to an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament if not for its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In November 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans took Merrill as the last pick of the NBA draft. A few days later, he was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a four-team trade and was later assigned to the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle, where he made his debut in February 2021.

In August 2021, Sam Merrill was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, only to be waived on January 1, 2022. However, this setback was short-lived, as he signed with the Sacramento Kings on August 13, 2022. Despite being waived before the season start, he found a spot in the Cleveland Charge training camp roster.

In March 2023, Merrill signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ten days later, he signed a multi-year contract with the team, marking the beginning of his tenure with them. In December of the same year, he scored a career-high 27 points in a match against the Utah Jazz, contributing significantly to the Cavaliers’ 124-116 win.

Through his journey in the world of professional basketball, Sam Merrill continues to make his mark — one game at a time. From his high school days in Bountiful, Utah, to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ court, Merrill’s story is one of determination, resilience, and love for basketball.