Sam Merrill is an American professional basketball player and as of March 2025, he plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was born on May 15, 1996, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in Bountiful, Utah. Merrill played college basketball at Utah State University from 2016 to 2020, where he earned accolades such as Mountain West Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, and became the school's all-time leading scorer in the Mountain West era.
The New Orleans Pelicans drafted Sam Merrill with the 60th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he won an NBA Championship in 2021. Throughout his NBA career, Merrill has played for teams like Milwaukee Bucks (2020-2021), Memphis Grizzlies (2021-2022), Cleveland Charge in the G-League (2022-2023), and Cleveland Cavaliers (2023-as of March 2025).
Who is Sam Merrill’s Wife, Kanyan Merrill?
Sam Merrill's wife is Kanyan Merrill, her maiden name is Kanyan Ward. As per her college profile, she is a former college soccer player.
What does Kanyan Merrill do for a living?
Kanyan Merrill, formerly known as Kanyan Ward, had a career as a college soccer player. She played women's soccer for the Utah State Aggies. Before joining Utah State University, she attended Mountain Crest High School in Hyrum, Utah as per her college profile. During her high school, she was a four-year letterwinner under coach Dennis Giles. Kanyan was an all-state second-team honoree as a senior and earned all-area accolades in 2014 and 2015.
Kanyan Merrill started playing for the Utah State Aggies in 2016, and as a freshman, she played in 17 matches. She continued to play with the Utah State women's soccer team until 2019 and was named a Joe E. & Elma Whitesides Scholar Athlete, recognizing her academic and athletic excellence. According to her college profile, Merrill majored in human development and family studies.
Kanyan Merrill's Parents
According to her college profile, Kanyan Merrill is the daughter of Barry and Melinda Ward. She has two younger brothers and one younger sister, making her the eldest child in the family.
Read more: Sam Merrill Parents
Kanyan Merrill Social Media
Kanyan Merrill has an Instagram handle with the username @kanyanmerrill, where she has over 3,000 followers. However, her Instagram account is private. She also has a Twitter handle with the username @kanyanward, where she posts pictures from her college days. Apart from this, she also has an account on Facebook with the username @kanyan.ward.
| Social Media | Handle |
| @kanyanmerrill | |
| @kanyanward | |
| @kanyan.ward |
How long have Sam Merrill and Kanyan Merrill been married?
Sam Merrill and Kanyan Merrill have been married since May 2018. They met during their high school years at Utah State University, where they both attended, Sam played for the college’s basketball team and Kanyan played for the soccer team.
How many children do Sam Merrill and Kanyan Merrill have?
Sam Merrill and Kanyan Merrill have one child, a daughter named Kendall Merrill, who was born on May 10, 2022, as per their Instagram post. They announced their second pregnancy on September 18, 2024, through their Instagram handle. On February 6, 2025, the couple welcomed their second child, Drew Elle Merrill.
Also read: Sam Merrill Nationality
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FAQs on Sam Merrill
A. Sam Merrill attended Bountiful High School, where he also played basketball for the school’s team.
A. Sam Merrill attended Utah State University, where he played from 2016 to 2020.
A. Sam Merrill plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers as of March 2024.
A. Sam Merrill plays as a shooting guard, for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A. Yes, Sam Merrill won an NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
