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Mercer Eager To Make Long-Awaited Return

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2008

TAMPA - Mike Mercer said he usually only gets pregame butterflies for the really, really big games. Like on Feb. 7, 2007, when he was a University of Georgia sophomore playing against defending national champion Florida.

But nothing Mercer experienced will compare with today against the Niagara Purple Eagles when he makes his University of South Florida debut.

It's been nearly two years since Mercer last played. On Feb. 10, 2007, Mercer suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and missed Georgia's final 10 games.

He was then suspended for the first 15 games of the 2007-08 season after violating the school's academic policy and transferred to USF last season.

"It's been a long time coming," said Mercer, a junior who will have 11/2 years of eligibility at USF. "So long that I want to try to come out and try not to do too much. There will be some butterflies. I just want to work out the jitters."

As a sophomore at Georgia, the 6-foot-4 Mercer led the Bulldogs in scoring (13.7 points) and the year before that was named to the all-SEC freshman team.

When he decided to leave Georgia, Mercer said he considered USF, two other Big East schools and an ACC school, but opted for the Bulls because of his past relationships with USF coach Stan Heath, then at Arkansas, and assistant Reggie Hanson, then at Kentucky. Both recruited Mercer when he was rated the nation's No. 5 point guard out of high school.

Heath remembers the last time he coached against Mercer. Georgia won 67-64 in Fayetteville, Ark., on Jan. 17, 2007.

"Mike had 15 against Sonny Weems, who was a second-round draft pick in the NBA," Heath said. "Mike is just so explosive. He caught a dunk and hammered one home on our two big guys, 6-10 and 7-foot. His athletic abilities are so freakish, just how fast and quick he is."

Added Mercer: "I definitely remember the dunk. But it seems so long ago."

Not only will Mercer make his USF debut today, but so will Gus Gilchrist, a 6-10 freshman forward. Heath hinted both could be in the starting lineup.

Rated the ninth-best center in high school, Gilchrist signed with Virginia Tech but never attended the school. He then enrolled at Maryland last January but never played there and transferred to USF in June.

Gilchrist will make his collegiate debut 21 months after playing his final high school game.

"Mike's been antsy for a while," Heath said. "I texted him after our last game: 'I hope you're ready.' He responded: 'I was born ready.'

"I'm more concerned about Gus. I think the expectations are way too high for Gus. People are excited about them and we'll be much better. But we're not going to conquer the world."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

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