American's Mercer proving he can play with the big guys

That night, Dec. 28, 2006, Virginia point guard and Philly native Sean Singletary dropped 33 points on Mercer and the Eagles. Right then, right there, Mercer resolved such a thing wouldn't happen again.

It hasn't. In large part, because it hasn't, Mercer was named the league's MVP despite a modest 11.5 scoring average - a drop, in fact, of almost a point per game from last year.

Every inch of Mercer's 5-7, 180-pound frame is set to make sure that Villanova's Scottie Reynolds doesn't do what Singletary did. Mercer's 14th-seeded Eagles play Reynolds' third-seeded Wildcats tomorrow night at 7:20 at the Wachovia Center in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Mercer, now a senior, said in his assured, husky voice: "If I just go in and play my game, I can play with the guy. I can stick with him."

So much has changed since that eye-opening night at Virginia. Mercer got stronger - 10 pounds of NFL muscle stronger - smarter, braver.

"I think I gave Sean a little too much respect. You can't do that," Mercer said. "I've grown up. I've established that I can play with any guard in the country. Scottie's a great player, but I'm going to come in, look him straight in the eye and let him know I'm not some little kid you're going to walk all over or bully."

Mercer has been dealing with the "little kid" issue forever.

Listed at 5-9 but really a couple inches shy of that, Mercer was lightly recruited. He starred for Bob Hurley Sr. at St. Anthony in his hometown of Jersey City, N.J., (he's delighted American is playing in Philadelphia, despite Villanova's obvious advantage), but a suspect jumper and his size kept him from drawing suitors.

"He's been the little guy all his life," said Mercer's father, Derrick Mercer Sr., a security guard in a Jersey City grammar school. "When he was 8, he was the second-tallest kid on his team. Since then, he's always been the shortest."

Mercer stood plenty tall last season. His two free throws clinched the Patriot League tourney title last season, which gave the school its first NCAA Tournament berth - in a year it was picked to finish seventh in its own modest conference.

It was Mercer who helped former backup point guard Garrison Carr become one of the league's most dangerous scorers when Carr switched to shooting guard last season.

This year, it likely will be Mercer who spells the difference between an unlikely upset and a replay of last year's one-and-done against Tennessee: a wear-'em-down, boot-'em-out exercise in erosion.

MVPs make the difference, right?

"There was no question who was the MVP in the league this year," Eagles coach Jeff Jones said. "He scored when he needed to. He is the best defensive guard in the league. He's the guy our players look to when things need to be done, or when things need to be settled down."

Yes, Mercer finished second in the league in assists per game (4.39) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0/1), but that's stat-head minutia.

Carr, whose 17.8 points per game was second in the league to Navy gunner Kaleo Kina (18.0), easily might have won the award. Jones instead chose to nominate Mercer, a 4-year starter and the team's soul. In the Patriot League system, coaches nominate one of their own players, then the league's coaches vote. The coaches don't live on stats alone, and neither do teammates.

"When Mercer won the award, I wasn't surprised at all," Carr said.

Mercer said he was "shocked," but "gratified."

The nomination was one more way for Jones to show his appreciation. Sometimes, he does it more directly; he regularly chats with Mercer.

Their most recent heart-to-heart happened 10 days ago, after Army held Mercer, a 47.5 percent shooter, to 1-for-5 shooting in the Patriot Tournament semifinal.

"You're too focused," Jones told Mercer. "It'd be nice if you'd crack a smile. This is the time of year you need to be happy. Have fun. This time of year is fun for college basketball players."

Mercer hadn't smiled in 3 days. Almost immediately, his broad grin emerged, his heart warmed by Jones' concern.

"Garrison is getting a lot of the publicity around here. Coach Jones worries if I think I'm not as important to the team as Garrison is," Mercer said. "I'm the one getting him the ball. I'm the one controlling the team. I consider myself like one of those point guards from the old days."

Mercer isn't just saying that. He named his 3-year-old son Julius Isiah, after Doctor J and Isiah Thomas. Mercer hopes one day, he can say he played in their league.

He isn't the leaper that slam-dunk champ Nate Robinson is, but, he figures, if Earl Boykins and Saint Joseph's star Jameer Nelson can make it, why not him? His performance tomorrow could help that end.

"It can help me prove myself, that I can play with guards at an ACC or Big East level," Mercer said.

Or, one day, maybe even higher. *