Princeton High School star shooting guard Kam Mercer committed to the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program during a broadcast on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
He also announced his decision to reclassify from the 2028 recruiting class to the 2027 class.
The 6-foot-5 local prospect chose the Bearcats over rival Ohio State.
He also received scholarship offers from high-major programs including Xavier, Louisville, Missouri, Florida State, and Memphis, according to reports from Rivals and WLWT.
Fit and Development
Evaluators have praised Mercer’s length and athleticism as a wing.
They believe he can become a solid two-way player early in his college career and adapt to the competitiveness of the Big 12 conference under first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun.
During the past high school season, Mercer averaged 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
He led Princeton to an Ohio state championship.
He also won a gold medal with the USA Basketball U16 National Team last summer and captured the Nike EYBL Peach Jam 16U division title.
Mercer detailed his decision-making process and explained that the ultimate deciding factor for choosing the Bearcats came down to his projected fit within the team's schematic system.
"It definitely wasn’t an easy decision whatsoever. It really came down to Ohio State and UC for me.
I think the ultimate decision maker was probably fit. UC’s roster right now, I think the smallest player is what, 6-3 maybe?
So when they tell you they recruit length, they’re not lying. The roster says it.
I think that the deciding factor for me was fit offensively and defensively," said Mercer.
Mercer expressed confidence about moving up a year in the academic and athletic calendar. He noted that he has consistently competed against older players throughout his development.
"I’ve played 2027 my whole life. I really never played 2028.
So I know what all the guys look like.
Of course I’m going to be going against grown men in college and I get that, but I think that what the staff has planned for me and what they’ve expressed to me, they really believe in me.
I know that they’re going to put me in the best position to be the best version of myself," said Mercer.
Connection with Coach Calhoun
The guard previously visited the university under the prior coaching staff. He built an immediate bond with coach Calhoun during a return visit to campus earlier this month.
"I think our connection grew as soon as I stepped foot on campus. (Calhoun) has a little different aura to him.
I loved all my other visits, but I think Coach Calhoun, there’s just something about him that I can’t explain.
It’s a little different," said Mercer.
Mercer added that the direct honesty of the new coaching staff regarding his developmental areas stood out as a primary reason for his quick trust in the program.
"They genuinely care and they kept it straight with me. They didn’t tell me I was just this great player.
Just told me what I needed to work on and what I could do from now on to be ready.
I love the staff and I know I’ve only known them for maybe a month or a month and a half, but they’re just so real with me.
They keep everything real and I love coaches who are straightforward," said Mercer.
The local product emphasized his desire to help revitalize Cincinnati basketball, which has missed the NCAA Tournament for seven consecutive seasons.
"I think Cincinnati is going to get a proven winner in me. They haven’t won in so long.
They haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament in seven years. I’m just ready to bring the culture back.
I just think Cincinnati is such a special place," said Mercer.
He concluded by highlighting his broader goals for the university program and the surrounding community.
"I think with the new addition of that coaching staff, and of course me making this decision to go there a year early, hopefully it shows that I’m trying to accomplish something big and I’m not just doing it for myself.
I’m doing it for the city as well.
So I just want to win, make it to the tournament, hopefully win a tournament, and I know that all of us are on the same page as far as fans, coaching staff, and my family as well," said Mercer.
