Biography

Born in St. Elizabeth Jamaica, Merrick Palmer grew up in a basketball hotbed in Toronto known as "The Jungle".  Although he only started playing seriously at age 16 (relatively late by today’s standards), Merrick was able to become a recognizable name on the Toronto high school scene playing for powerhouse Lester B. Pearson in Scarborough.  As a freshman in 1993, Merrick won a national title with St. Francis Xavier University and was one of the team’s co-rookies of the year.  His university career brought him 2 all-star selections and national recognition as one of the most elusive and quickest guards in Canada.

  After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Merrick signed on with the Kwazulu Marlins of the Premier Basketball League in Durban South Africa.  With a league laden with NCAA division 1, Euroleague, and former NBA players, Merrick was 3rd in the league in scoring averaging a staggering 30.1 ppg.  The following season he lead the undermanned Marlins team to their first Premier league title.  In 1998, Merrick signed on with the Cape Town Kings coached by former Chicago Bulls guard and former Charlotte Bobcats head coach Sam Vincent.  Merrick still holds the PBL single game scoring record of 56 points, scored against the Pretoria Wildcats in 1998. On October 16th, 2008, Merrick travelled back to Antigonish to be inducted into the St. FX Sports Hall of Fame along with the members of the 93' championship team.

“Merrick is an explosive offensive player who works very hard on his game”
Steve Konchalski, St. Francis Xavier University Head Coach/Former National Team Head Coach

“You don’t know if it’s gonna be good or bad, but it’s gonna be spectacular enough to keep people talking…”
Sam Vincent,  former Charlotte Bobcats Head Coach (NBA)