11/2/2026 12:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Junior point guard discusses the 2026-27 season, Halloween candy and costumes. his Lord Have Mercy Foundation and more
As the University of Houston Men's Basketball prepares for its 2026-27 season opener, junior guard Mercy Miller sat down with UHCougars.com to discuss a variety of topics. See what Mercy had to say.
On his early commitment and how he was able to make it so early
Mercy Miller: "With me and my decision to come to Houston, it stemmed back to my dad. He actually came to the University of Houston, so there were ties there.
"I came to one of the games in the seventh grade against UCF, and it was College Game Day. I saw that game in person, and from there I just fell in love with it. I love the atmosphere. I knew it was an up-and-coming program at the time, and I just wanted to go somewhere that I felt was like home. I have family here, and once I got an offer from Coach Sampson and the staff, it just all made sense. From there on out, we built a relationship, and I knew this is where I wanted to be."
On what Houston's coaches saw in him
MM: "They saw someone who could really score the ball, first and foremost. That was probably my calling card coming out of high school, and I guess the game that Coach Sampson first saw me, I had like 10 threes in that game. I had it going/. I was hot
But there was a play down the stretch where my teammate was open, and I passed it to him, and Coach Sampson saw that I was unselfish even though I had it going like that in AAU. He thought that was pretty cool, and I guess he believed in me from then and just watched me progress and saw my abilities with my athleticism."
On being a leader and one of the only returning players from a year ago
MM: "Being a leader is something that's natural to me. That's something I was born with.
Ever since a young age, I've always wanted to be someone who people could lean on and who they could look at as an example. It really doesn't feel too different for me. But the difference from the last couple of years is that really wasn't my role to be someone the guys looked up to. I didn't really know what to expect. Now, I am someone who has been here in the program going into my third year. I know what to expect out of Coach Sampson. I know what the Cougar culture is, so I know I'm somebody that the guys could follow. I'm going to go out there and give my all every time and try to be an example."
On looking back on himself from a freshman and how he's changed
MM: "I've definitely matured and learned a lot of things. Since being a freshman, I feel like that was so long ago, but I guess it was only two years ago. I just learned to be more comfortable being uncomfortable.
In this game of basketball. there are a lot of things that are going to be uncomfortable situations and things that you have to persevere through. The adversity just gave me more patience and the ability to be resilient to anything now. Any life challenges, even off the court, I feel like I'm more patient and more understanding that everything is going to work out how it needs to work out if you just trust God's time and plan. That's something I really learned."
On what makes Coach Sampson who he is
MM: "Coach Sampson is an old school, tough coach who's going to challenge you and wants the best from you. That's what makes him who he is. He's not changing, and he knows how to get the most out of people.
"Whether you want to do it or not, he'll do it. That's one of the characteristics that's so special about Coach Sampson. If you're not going to push yourself to those places, he is a coach who will do that and who cares for you at the same time. That's super cool."
On his favorite memory with Houston basketball
MM: "My favorite memory so far was probably when we went to the National Championship. Just all that experience, spending time with the guys in San Antonio, or either that or the times we get to go to Coach Sampson's house and just hang out with the guys, and whenever we're all together. That's pretty cool."
On what fans should know about the 2026-27 Cougars
"Fans should know that the Cougars are going to be a tough team, an exciting team, with many guys who want to go out there and compete every single day. We're not going to quit no matter who we play, so fans should be excited for this team and looking forward to this season."
On his favorite Halloween costume
"My favorite costume was probably when I was five years old. I loved the Ninja Turtles. Me and all my brothers, because there's four of us, we were all a different Ninja Turtle. I was Michelangelo, so that's stuck with me ever since. That was a pretty cool costume for me."
On his favorite Halloween candy
MM: "I get it from my mom. She likes Dot's candy, and ever since she liked it when I was a kid, I would try it, and they grew on me."
On being the founder and leader of The Lord Have Mercy Foundation
MM: "It's a foundation I founded coming out of high school. I just wanted to be able to give back and be a face in a community. We've always done community service in my family. Being a basketball player, I knew I wanted to give back through the game and teach kids a little bit more about how God has moved me in my life and how he can move others in their lives, and just through the game of basketball as well.
"I feel like I can relate to a lot of people in that instance, and just being able to be blessed with certain things, I want to give back to those who are less fortunate. That's why I started that."
Anything else you want to add or talk about?
MM: "Just look out for the Coogs and Mercy Miller this year."
On his early commitment and how he was able to make it so early
Mercy Miller: "With me and my decision to come to Houston, it stemmed back to my dad. He actually came to the University of Houston, so there were ties there.
"I came to one of the games in the seventh grade against UCF, and it was College Game Day. I saw that game in person, and from there I just fell in love with it. I love the atmosphere. I knew it was an up-and-coming program at the time, and I just wanted to go somewhere that I felt was like home. I have family here, and once I got an offer from Coach Sampson and the staff, it just all made sense. From there on out, we built a relationship, and I knew this is where I wanted to be."
On what Houston's coaches saw in him
MM: "They saw someone who could really score the ball, first and foremost. That was probably my calling card coming out of high school, and I guess the game that Coach Sampson first saw me, I had like 10 threes in that game. I had it going/. I was hot
But there was a play down the stretch where my teammate was open, and I passed it to him, and Coach Sampson saw that I was unselfish even though I had it going like that in AAU. He thought that was pretty cool, and I guess he believed in me from then and just watched me progress and saw my abilities with my athleticism."
On being a leader and one of the only returning players from a year ago
MM: "Being a leader is something that's natural to me. That's something I was born with.
Ever since a young age, I've always wanted to be someone who people could lean on and who they could look at as an example. It really doesn't feel too different for me. But the difference from the last couple of years is that really wasn't my role to be someone the guys looked up to. I didn't really know what to expect. Now, I am someone who has been here in the program going into my third year. I know what to expect out of Coach Sampson. I know what the Cougar culture is, so I know I'm somebody that the guys could follow. I'm going to go out there and give my all every time and try to be an example."
On looking back on himself from a freshman and how he's changed
MM: "I've definitely matured and learned a lot of things. Since being a freshman, I feel like that was so long ago, but I guess it was only two years ago. I just learned to be more comfortable being uncomfortable.
In this game of basketball. there are a lot of things that are going to be uncomfortable situations and things that you have to persevere through. The adversity just gave me more patience and the ability to be resilient to anything now. Any life challenges, even off the court, I feel like I'm more patient and more understanding that everything is going to work out how it needs to work out if you just trust God's time and plan. That's something I really learned."
On what makes Coach Sampson who he is
MM: "Coach Sampson is an old school, tough coach who's going to challenge you and wants the best from you. That's what makes him who he is. He's not changing, and he knows how to get the most out of people.
"Whether you want to do it or not, he'll do it. That's one of the characteristics that's so special about Coach Sampson. If you're not going to push yourself to those places, he is a coach who will do that and who cares for you at the same time. That's super cool."
On his favorite memory with Houston basketball
MM: "My favorite memory so far was probably when we went to the National Championship. Just all that experience, spending time with the guys in San Antonio, or either that or the times we get to go to Coach Sampson's house and just hang out with the guys, and whenever we're all together. That's pretty cool."
On what fans should know about the 2026-27 Cougars
"Fans should know that the Cougars are going to be a tough team, an exciting team, with many guys who want to go out there and compete every single day. We're not going to quit no matter who we play, so fans should be excited for this team and looking forward to this season."
On his favorite Halloween costume
"My favorite costume was probably when I was five years old. I loved the Ninja Turtles. Me and all my brothers, because there's four of us, we were all a different Ninja Turtle. I was Michelangelo, so that's stuck with me ever since. That was a pretty cool costume for me."
On his favorite Halloween candy
MM: "I get it from my mom. She likes Dot's candy, and ever since she liked it when I was a kid, I would try it, and they grew on me."
On being the founder and leader of The Lord Have Mercy Foundation
MM: "It's a foundation I founded coming out of high school. I just wanted to be able to give back and be a face in a community. We've always done community service in my family. Being a basketball player, I knew I wanted to give back through the game and teach kids a little bit more about how God has moved me in my life and how he can move others in their lives, and just through the game of basketball as well.
"I feel like I can relate to a lot of people in that instance, and just being able to be blessed with certain things, I want to give back to those who are less fortunate. That's why I started that."
Anything else you want to add or talk about?
MM: "Just look out for the Coogs and Mercy Miller this year."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballThursday, October 29
Sunday, October 18
Thursday, October 15
Wednesday, October 14