Luke Merriman: Legendary. (John Fisken and Ann Merriman photos)
He is the legend that keeps on giving.
A sharp-shooting, slick-dribbling, nattily-dressed hoops sensation who glides through the world, sly grin on his face.
Luke Merriman, who celebrates a birthday today, is the real deal — a genuine superstar who is genuinely one of the nicest guys you’ll meet.
He’s a killer on the hard-court (as long as he can keep his bones intact) and willing to put up with my shenanigans off-court, which is a sweet combo.
Few high schoolers would step up and not only accept, but seem to mostly enjoy, the hubbub created by me publishing an infamous photo of said player going to town on a hotdog (during the middle of a game).
Even as the photo was republished just about everywhere, becoming our own little Cow Town version of viral, Luke just did his version of McConaughey, sliding by with a slightly amused “Alright, alright, alright.”
Mr. Merriman is a cool customer all around, and this upcoming basketball season should be his moment to shine even brighter than ever.
With a wide open path to varsity hoops glory opening up in front of him, Luke, who will be a junior, should have considerable freedom to rain down three-point bombs alongside his fellow Wolf sharpshooters.
After a mass graduation and recent defections, CHS will have only two varsity players returning and a limited number of last year’s JV players around to move up.
Merriman could be the team’s secret weapon, though, a born shooter who lives to slay from distance and cocks an eyebrow when people start talking about the school record for treys in a single boys basketball season.
It’s 62, courtesy Brad Sherman in 2002-2003, if you’re wondering.
So my advice to Merriman?
Enjoy your birthday, bask in the cake (though check for any wandering paparazzi before putting fork to mouth), then get back to perfecting the rotation on your shot.
This is your season, your time to rise up and write your legend.
Happy birthday, Luke. Now go get ready to shred folks.
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