Top-10 sophomore Mercer picks Cincinnati, to reclassify to 2027

Top-10 highschool sophomore Kam Mercer you could have dedicated to Cincinnatihe instructed ESPN, whereas additionally planning to reclassify up into the 2027 class.

Mercer is the highest-ranked recruit to commit to Cincinnati for the reason that ESPN recruiting database started in 2007 and turns into this system’s first five-star commit since Lance Stephenson in 2009.

“They made me a priority, and once I made my visit, I felt very comfortable there,” he mentioned. “Growing up in Cincinnati, it means a lot for me to play here.”

Mercer provides new Cincinnati coach Jerrod Calhoun a press release recruiting, whereas additionally changing into Calhoun’s first highschool recruit since taking up the Bearcats earlier this spring.

“Coach Calhoun knows what success looks like at Cincinnati,” he mentioned. “He was there when they were very successful under Bob Huggins. He’s been successful everywhere he’s been as a head coach.”

“Coach Calhoun is a good person,” Mercer added. “He’s down to earth and he’s a family guy. That’s important to me.”

A 6-foot-5 wing from Princeton High School (Ohio), Mercer is ranked No. 7 within the SC Next 25 for the category of 2028. He will probably be ranked inside the highest 20 of the 2027 class when these rankings are up to date later this month.

The Cincinnati native gained a gold medal with USA Basketball on the 2025 FIBA ​​U16 AmeriCup, averaging 5.8 factors and three.0 rebounds in six video games.

Mercer is a left-handed playmaker who demonstrates excellent passing imaginative and prescient, constantly discovering the open man and creating scoring alternatives along with his downhill, probing fashion. He excels within the open court docket, main the break and making fast choices to put stress on the protection. In the halfcourt, Mercer has develop into adept at studying the protection in ball-screen actions and is harmful as a pull-up shooter.

“We watched film together on my visit and I was impressed with their offense and how they’ve been top 20 in efficiency over the last few years,” he mentioned of Calhoun. “My game fits his style of coaching.”

Mercer, who can play anyplace on the perimeter due to his dimension, deal with and really feel for the sport, additionally possesses a plus-six-inch wingspan, which is an asset when it comes to successfully switching defensively.

He’s averaging 6.7 factors, 3.3 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists by way of seven video games on the Nike EYBL circuit up to now this spring.