Former Utah State Guard Sam Merrill Selected By Milwaukee Bucks In 2020 NBA Draft
Nov 18, 2020, 10:22 PM | Updated: Feb 26, 2021, 2:33 pm
Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies goes for the shot against the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 7, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Milwaukee Bucks selected former Utah State guard Sam Merrill with the No. 60 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft.
The 2020 NBA Draft took place virtually on Wednesday, November 18.
New Orleans selected Merrill on behalf of the Bucks after the Pelicans had traded the pick earlier in the draft.
Merrill was the final pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.
BREAKING: Sam Merrill will reportedly be the final pick of the 2020 #NBADraft, heading to the @Bucks. Congrats Sam! pic.twitter.com/25DUPJv5zQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2020
The former Aggie joins a Bucks team that posted a 56-17 record during the 2019-20 NBA season.
Milwaukee reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in the postseason.
Mr. Irrelevant! But awesome for Sam Merrill to land on a winning team who needs his shooting.
Honestly he's a bit of a poor mans Bogdan Bogdanovic so if that trade falls through its a nice fit. https://t.co/YU5F7a1CCw
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 19, 2020
Sam Merrill At Utah State
The Bountiful, Utah native joined the Aggies in 2016 where he appeared in 30 games and starting in the final 18 games of the 2016-17 campaign. Averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, Merrill was just beginning a legendary career in Logan. The Aggies went 14-17 that season.
As a sophomore in the 2017-18 season, Merrill posted averages of 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per contest. Utah State finished the campaign with a 17-17 record.
During his junior year, Merrill won the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year award and led the Aggies to a conference tournament championship. The 2018-19 season was Merrill’s best in Logan, averaging 20.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Utah State went 28-7 and appeared in the NCAA Tournament. They lost to Washington in the first round.
SAM. MONEY. MERRILLLLLLLLL!!!@smerrill05#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/6brMPAWbEY
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 8, 2020
As a senior during the 2019-20 season, Merrill posted averages of 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. His last game will likely be the most memorable of his career as he drilled the game-winning three-pointer to give the Aggies their second straight Mountain West Conference Championship.
Merrill ended his career at Utah State with 2,197 points, which is good for second in school history behind Jaycee Carroll. Also, second in assists with 477, and second in three-point field goals with 319.
