Kam Mercer, ranked No. 7 in the SC Next 25 for the class of 2028, has committed to Cincinnati and plans to reclassify into the 2027 class. The 6-foot-5 wing from Princeton High School (Ohio) is the highest-ranked recruit Cincinnati has landed since the ESPN database began tracking in 2007. Mercer becomes the program's first five-star commit since Lance Stephenson in 2009.

On the 2025 FIBA U16 AmeriCup, Mercer won gold with USA Basketball, averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds across six games. His spring EYBL numbers through seven games show 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. A left-handed playmaker with a plus-6-inch wingspan, he excels in transition and has developed into a reliable pull-up shooter.

Mercer chose Cincinnati because new coach Jerrod Calhoun made him a priority. He praised Calhoun's experience with past success under Bob Huggins and his coaching style as a natural fit for his game. Growing up in Cincinnati, playing for the Bearcats carries personal weight. Calhoun's first high school recruit as the new head coach, Mercer gives Cincinnati a clear foundation heading into its next chapter.