Jamie Mercurio
Jamie Mercurio is a former American collegiate basketball player. Mercurio played guard for the University of Miami Ohio from 1988-1992.[1][2][3][4]
Mercurio attended grade school at St. Joseph Catholic School in Maumee, Ohio for eight years and participated in football, cross country, Little League baseball, and basketball. Jamie helped lead the St. Joseph Basketball team to a four-year record of 52-6 overall. St. Joseph won the league championship each year and won the Diocesan championship In Jaime’s eighth grade year.[3]
At the age of eleven, Mercurio competed at the Pepsi Cola/NBA Hot Shot Contest representing The City of Maumee and the Detroit Pistons. Jamie finished third in the nation in his age group had the honor of meeting NBA legend and Hall of Famer, Oscar Robertson.[3][5]
Jamie played high school basketball for Maumee High School in Maumee, Ohio. As a sophomore, he helped the varsity team win a Northern Lakes League championship and his team went undefeated throughout the regular season. In his junior year, Maumee went to win another NLL championship with a record of 19-4. Mercurio was named as an All-Ohio honorable mention. In Mercurio’s senior year, Maumee went 15-6. Jamie won the team’s Most Valuable Player award and for a second straight season he was a first-team All-NLL and all-district as well as another All-Ohio honorable mention.[3][1][5]
After visiting with Kent State, Ohio University, and Miami Ohio. Jamie signed with Miami Ohio in November of his senior year. Jamie graduated from Maumee High School in 1987. Mercurio was later inducted to Maumee High School’s Hall of Fame, Class of 1997.[5]
Jamie played four years at Miami Ohio from 1988-1992.[3][1][4]
The highlight of Jamie’s collegiate career took place on March 19, 1992 during a NCAA Tournament game against the University of North Carolina led by future NBA stars, Eric Montross, Hubert Davis and George Lynch. Jamie hit a then school-record of eight 3-point field goals. Jamie led both teams in scoring with 24 points, shooting 8/14 (57%) from 3-point range. Mercurio added one assist and two rebounds in a 63-68 loss to North Carolina.[6][4]The outcome was in doubt for North Carolina until Mercurio missed a 30-foot shot with four seconds left. Hubert Davis, fouled immediately and made two free throws to clinch the victory.[7]
Regarding North Carolina’s victory, Eric Montross said, “Coming into this game, a lot of people thought we were going to be able to roll over them. But we saw the tapes. We knew what we were facing.”[7]In the post-game interview Mercurio said, “If we got a couple of quick threes and they kept missing free throws, we would be back in the game.” He said, "When we made a couple of them, I think we got them nervous."[8]
Jamie played a total of 114 games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.6 assists per game at Miami of Ohio.[4]
Jamie graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.[3]
Jamie coached the Maumee High School freshman girls basketball team to two consecutive championships in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he was hired as the Anthony Wayne Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach.[3]
On an early morning in November of 1994 at about 3:00am, Jamie was involved in a tragic car accident.[9]Mercurio’s car left a curve on a roadway near Toledo, Ohio and struck a tree and a fire hydrant, which left him in an extended coma for a month. Mercurio’s injuries were described as "massive.” Jamie Mercurio has been in a wheelchair and has very limited speech since the accident.[3][1]
Miami University Men’s Basketball program has since created an award known as The Jamie Mercurio Award, which is given to a player who exemplifies courage, determination and perseverance.[10]
Miami University’s basketball program hosted The Jamie Mercurio Skin The Hawk Golf Classic at the Beckett Ridge Country Club in West Chester, Ohio in 2009 and 2010.[11]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Gift of forgotten basketball game a video treasure for family".
- ↑ "Jamie Mercurio College Stats".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Jamie Mercurio 1987".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Archives".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Class of 1997".
- ↑ "North Carolina vs. Miami (OH) Box Score, March 19, 1992".
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA Men's TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST REGIONAL : Montross is the Big Man for Tar Heels". Los Angeles Times. From Associated Press. 1992-03-20.
- ↑ "N. Carolina gets lucky in beating Miami, 68-63".
- ↑ https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=7126&context=bg-news
- ↑ "Men's Basketball Announces Postseason Awards".
- ↑ "Jamie Mercurio Skin the Hawk Golf Classic Set for June 11".
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