- Mike Mercer (basketball)
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Michael Anthony Mercer, Jr. (born September 29, 1986) is an American college basketball player. A 6'4" (1.93 m) and 195 lb (88 kg) guard is currently with the University of South Florida, having transferred from University of Georgia. Born in Anaheim, California, Mercer grew up in Snellville, Georgia, where he was a teammate of current NBA player Louis Williams at South Gwinnett High School. Mercer and Williams committed to play at Georgia in 2004, but Williams opted for the 2005 NBA Draft, ending up as the Philadelphia 76ers' second round pick. Mercer went on the play for the Georgia Bulldogs as one of the top Southeastern Conference (SEC) freshmen in 2005-06.
Contents
Collegiate career
University of Georgia
Torn anterior cruciate ligament
On February 10, 2007, at The Colonial Center in Columbia, South Carolina, Mercer injured his right knee with 9:45 remaining in a Georgia road win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.[1] Mercer had torn his anterior cruciate ligament and subsequently missed the last ten games of the season.[2] He underwent surgery on March 16, and was expected to be ready for the 2007-2008 season.[3]
Suspension
On October 11, 2007, Mercer was suspended from playing in the University of Georgia's Bulldogs basketball team's first 15 games for failing to meet the school's academic requirements.[4][5] He had violated the school's new class attendance policy for student-athletes.[5] On November 19, 2007, Mercer was kicked off the team[6] for unspecified violations of team rules.[7] At the time, Bulldogs coach Dennis Felton said that Mercer was "being a disruption".[4] The dismissal came almost a week after University of Georgia police searched the dorm room he shared with a teammate who was arrested for having a pocket knife in the room.[4]
Transfer to University of South Florida
In November 2007, less than a fortnight after he was dismissed from Georgia, it was announced that Mercer would continue his collegiate basketball career at the University of South Florida. His other preferred destinations were Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.[8] In his South Florida debut on December 14, 2008, Mercer finished with 12 points and a team-high 3 steals in a loss to Niagara.[9] Mercer was released from the team due to a marijuana arrest. Stan Heath asked Mike to return to play for the Bulls in the 2009-2010 season.
References
- ^ Georgia 73, South Carolina 54 - Recap - February 10, 2007
- ^ Georgia 75, Kennesaw State 66 - Recap - February 14, 2007
- ^ "Mercer has surgery; Jackson's up next". OnlineAthens. Athens Banner-Herald. March 16, 2007. http://onlineathens.com/stories/031707/mensbb_20070317063.shtml. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
- ^ a b c Felton believes Georgia has more talent than ever
- ^ a b Mercer, Jackson, Brown to miss part of upcoming season
- ^ "Felton kicks Mercer off team". ajc.com. ajc.com. November 19, 2007. http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/11/19/ugamercer_1120.html.
- ^ Georgia's Humphrey suspended three games after arrest for underage drinking
- ^ "Mercer to transfer to South Florida". redandblack.com. redandblack.com. November 29, 2007. http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2007/11/29/Sports/Mercer.To.Transfer.To.South.Florida-3121023.shtml.
- ^ Niagara 70, South Florida 55 - Recap - December 14, 2008
External links
Categories:- 1986 births
- Living people
- African American basketball players
- Basketball players from California
- Basketball players from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
- People from Anaheim, California
- People from Gwinnett County, Georgia
- Georgia Bulldogs basketball players
- South Florida Bulls men's basketball players
- Shooting guards
- American basketball biography, 1980s birth stubs
- University of Georgia stubs
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