Supporting Role Makes Mercer a Star

He could have immediately been “The Man” almost anywhere else, seemingly among the top priorities of every prep basketball phenom to ever take a recruiting trip.

His talent is obvious and often overwhelming. And patience, of course, is not typically a virtue of youth.

So most of what Ron Mercer did really doesn’t make sense.

Until now.

The Kentucky freshman waited and watched, albeit not always willingly. But he didn’t cause a fuss, and he didn’t disappoint.

His season of sacrifice ended with the ultimate reward Monday night. Mercer played a key role in the Wildcats’ 76-67 victory over Syracuse in the Final Four final before 19,229 at the Meadowlands Arena.

Mercer didn’t get top billing, but the show was a smash.

“Of all the schools, of all my choices, I felt Kentucky was the only one that really had a chance to compete for a national championship in the next two years,” said Mercer, rated the nation’s top recruit by several publications last season.

“I thought I could come here and develop slowly and learn from the seniors without a lot of pressure, and also have a shot at [the national championship]. I think I made a good choice.”

Not much doubt about that.

The 6-foot-7 swingman scored 20 points in only 24 minutes, making eight of 12 field-goal attempts, including three of four three-pointers. He did it with that special shooting touch that made him a prep All-American. He did it with the eye-opening leaping ability that put him on coaches’ wish lists.

And, as often happens, Mercer did it in reserve. Kentucky played 36 games this season and Mercer played in all of them. But started only 12, and he never played more than 30 minutes.

Mercer realized what to expect before he signed on with the Bluegrass State’s obsession. Kentucky would be loaded with or without him.

Coach Rick Pitino laid it out early in the recruiting process, but the Nashville, Tenn., native didn’t mind. Or so he thought.

Mercer has an ego too, and limited playing time creates bruises. He didn’t make his feelings known, but Tony Delk knew. And he acted quickly.

Delk, the Wildcats’ senior leader, and the guy deservedly occupying the star’s role, noticed the gifted, younger standout wasn’t very happy early in the season. Delk also knew what to do.

“He wasn’t getting a lot of playing time, and you could see it was bothering him,” Delk said. “I told him that before the end of the year, he was going to be a major factor for us.

“I told him to just keep his head straight, and it was going to happen. He’s done that, and he’s going to be one of the better players to ever come out of this program.”

That’s saying a lot, but not enough, Pitino said.

“He played magnificently with pressure on the line,” Pitino said. “I knew he was great, that’s why I recruited him.

“But he showed me something tonight. When a freshman can do that under the influence of that much pressure, it bodes well for the next three years Ron Mercer has.”

Delk led Kentucky with 24 points, but no Wildcat was cooler than Mercer. Kentucky won its sixth national championship because the key freshman didn’t play like one.

“The seniors helped me out through the whole year and made me comfortable,” Mercer said. “I talked to the guys a little bit before the game, especially the seniors, and that really helped me out.”

Pitino wasn’t worried.

“There was no doubt in the coaches’ minds that Mercer was going to come up big,” Pitino said. “Ron is a great basketball player and he’s an even greater person, because he could have complained.

“He could have wanted the instant gratification everybody expected of him, and he never did that. He came to Kentucky to be part of a team and to learn certain things. Now, after his freshman year, he’s one of the main reasons we won the national championship.”