Merrick Back at Home in Wheeling
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WHEELING -- To say Milos Merrick has grown up in the Cancer Research Classic wouldn't be exxagerating.
When the inaugural event was held in 2008, Merrick was just six years old tagging along with his dad and CRC founder and director Dr. Gregory Merrick.
Fast forwarding to the present, Milos finds himself preparing for his fifth and final appearance in the CRC when his ISA Andrews Osborne squad takes on Bishop Walsh in tonight's CRC finale at WesBanco Arena.
"It feels great to be back home and playing in my dad's tournament again," Milos said following his team's 73-61 victory against First Love Christian Friday afternoon. "It's good to get a win again. I'm now 5-0 (in the CRC) with one more to go."
As he has basically his entire life, Merrick plans to soak in as much of the CRC atmosphere as he can today.
"So much work goes into this event, but it brings so many people to Wheeling and such positive attention to the city," Milos Merrick said. "It allows people from the valley to see what real high-level basketball is by watching the top players and teams compete at a high level."
Prior to ISA's arrival in Wheeling on Thursday, Merrick was asked plenty of questions by his teammates about what was in store for them. Actually, that carried over as the team bus navigated its way from Oglebay Park where it's staying to the Howard Long Wellness Center for practice.
"The bus driver was missing turns and stuff, so the coaches called me up to the front of the bus to help give them directions," Merrick said.
Interestingly, Merrick has played in the CRC for four consecutive years, but played on three different teams. His first appearance came in 2017 with IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He spent his last two seasons with La Lumiere before leaving for the Ohio-based ISA before this season.
Part of Merrick's decision to transfer schools once again was geography. He's now as close to the Ohio Valley as he's been since junior high. ISA Andrews Osborne is located just south of Cleveland in Willoughby.
"It's nice to only be 2.5 hours from home," Merrick said. "When I visited, it just felt like home, too. So many great people in the basketball program and school. The coaches really care about you and you're not just a number or anything like that. It's really been that way at the other schools, but it felt even more like that at ISA."
Merrick had a minor connection to ISA because of assistant coach Sean White, who was a clinician at a camp Merrick attended at IMG several years ago.
At ISA, Merrick indicated the basketball players attend school from 8 a.m. until noon, have an hour for lunch and then it's into the gym from 1-5 p.m.
"That's every single day," Merrick said. "It's a grind, but the coaches really push us to be the best players and students we can be. It's just been a great fit for me."
Merrick didn't score on Friday, but he played a very solid floor game, including six assists.
"I played pretty well, especially passing and I defended well," Merrick said. "I need to shoot the ball better, but getting my scorers the ball is my job. I don't try to do things that aren't necessary."
Merrick is drawing collegiate interest and plans to play at the next level. Where, however, is yet to be determined.
"I've had some high majors talk to me about walk-on spots," Merrick said. "I don't have a timetable (for a decision). Whenever it happens … it happens. It will fall into place."