Five-star shooting guard Kam Mercer announced his commitment to the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program during a SportsCenter broadcast on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The Princeton High School standout also revealed he will reclassify from the 2028 recruiting class to 2027.
>>> Dirk Nowitzki Sets NBA Regular Season Records for Wins Without Star Help
Mercer holds a . 9961 rating on 247Sports, making him the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to Cincinnati.
He surpasses Lance Stephenson, who previously held the record at . 9951.
Before moving up a year, Mercer was ranked 11th nationally and first among shooting guards in the 2028 class.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard chose Cincinnati over 11 other offers, including Ohio State, Maryland, Florida State, and Missouri.
The commitment keeps top local talent in Cincinnati as the Bearcats compete with in-state rivals.
Head coach Jerrod Calhoun had previously stressed the importance of building a dominant presence within Ohio.
>>> Power Four Baseball Tournaments Reshape NCAA Postseason Bracket Projections
Calhoun highlighted the program's recent success, noting the team spent $2.4 million on its roster, won a regular-season title, a conference tournament title, and a first-round NCAA game.
He emphasized the need for continued investment and the right personnel.
"The University of Cincinnati deserves a winner in men's basketball. This city deserves to be rocking and rolling again.
People need to fear us in the state of Ohio," Calhoun said.
Mercer is the first high school recruit to join the Bearcats under Calhoun's tenure.
>>> Dodge Teases Extreme Copperhead Muscle Car and New GLH Crossover
He is expected to provide an immediate scoring spark as Cincinnati prepares for Big 12 conference play.
