As the starting point guard for the AU men's basketball team, Derrick Mercer earned the position as a freshman, a rare accomplishment in Division I basketball.
But the early success didn't come easy for him. Adjusting to college is hard enough for any freshman, let alone a starting basketball player.
"I'm living on my own for the first time without my parents being there helping me out," Mercer said as his eyes shot up under his golden, oval-shaped reading glasses. "Teammates tell me freshman year is the hardest, so right now I'm just trying to cope with it all."
But with all the changes in his life, he said basketball is the easiest part of his day.
Running the point requires quick, smart and reliable decisions - something he learned from his playing days under coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony's High School in New Jersey. Stories from Hurley's former players often noted his novel teaching techniques, including taking his teams into dangerous neighborhoods for street games.
While Mercer learned to be tough from St. Anthony's, developing trust and communication with the Eagles took time. The other four starters - all juniors - have chemistry from past seasons together.
"As a freshman, it's hard because I have these guys who are older than me and I don't know how to talk to them and get their attention," Mercer said.
Teammates and coaches worked with Mercer to cultivate his communication on the court and his ability lead the team more productively. Coach Jeff Jones said he continues to work with Mercer on his quiet nature so that he would be more assertive on the court, but said he's making strides.
Most impressive about Mercer is his maturity, said Anthony Wilson, AU's assistant athletic director for communications. More specifically, when to step up or shut up. And under the tutelage of Jones, knowing when to shut up is an asset.
"Coach likes to scream a lot," he said.
If Jones' title hasn't afforded him the right to yell, his playing career at Virginia has. He started every year there and left as its all-time assists leader.
"Having been a guard so many years ago, I think I learned you can't play the game looking over your shoulder," Jones said. "So with Derrick or any point guard, I think I'm harder on them in practice in terms of their decisions."
Jones' high expectations were validated when Mercer was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year.
While winning the award was a short-term goal, Mercer said he hopes to make the NBA. Despite studying business administration Mercer said he's thinking only about reaching the sport's highest plateau.
"Those goals are something this team needs," junior captain Andre Ingram said. "When you know guys want to play beyond college ball, they are going to put that much more effort into it and play the best they can here."
If Mercer's freshman playing time is any indication of the length of his career, he may have a chance. Mercer led the team with 967 minutes. The achievement will likely be overlooked by fans, but there is a reason for the milestone that coaches and teammates seemed to agree about.
"He's the most advanced, in terms of understanding the game, of any freshman that I've had at American University," Jones said.
Added Ingram: "He could be the most complete player on the team"
