Otis Birdsong Expects Breakout Season from Houston’s Mercy Miller
Kai Montgomery: Oh, fantastic. Another college athlete hype piece – because we all needed more pep talks from campus legends. Yet here we are, talking about Mercy Miller, son of rap mogul Master P, and Houston icon Otis Birdsong delivering his hot takes at LAX. Buckle up.
Mercy Miller, the second generation basketball prospect, is headed into his sophomore year with the University of Houston Cougars after appearing in 22 games as a freshman in the 2024-2025 season. Birdsong, whose jersey is one of only five retired by the Cougars, told TMZ Sports that Miller is already something special. Considering Birdsong was a No 2 overall pick in 1977 and still holds All American honors, that is not modest praise.
At 69 years old, Birdsong is not here for inflated expectations without substance. “In coach Sampson’s system and culture, you got to wait your turn,” he said. Miller spent last season absorbing the playbook, learning spacing, defensive rotations, passing triggers and the relentless work ethic drilled by head coach Kelvin Sampson. Now, Birdsong insists, the sophomore is ready to compete for more minutes and make serious waves.
Birdsong went as far as to dub Miller one of the best shooters on the roster this fall, a claim that might raise eyebrows given Houston returns several sharpshooters. “He’s tougher, he wants to be there, he wants to compete for a starting job,” Birdsong remarked, noting Miller’s consistent grind in the weight room. He even forecast a hell of a year for the young guard, tipping his hat to the hours Miller logs lifting, shooting and studying film.
As a freshman, Miller averaged limited minutes but showed flashes of perimeter polish and court vision. His 22-game debut provided glimpses that he could excel in Sampson’s famed pressure cooker offense. Now that he understands the pace, defensive schemes and set plays, expect to see him take more three point attempts, manage transition chances and defend positions one through three with a premiership effort.
We also took a moment to ask Birdsong for his quick take on Cooper Flagg, the former Duke defensive wizard turned Summer League standout. While Birdsong conceded Flagg possesses rare talent and versatility, he urged patience before conferring MVP status. “He’s got tools,” Birdsong said, “but let’s not put that trophy case up just yet.” Sound advice from someone who has seen rookie hype implode under pro pressure.
Kelvin Sampson’s track record of developing undersized but hungry guards gives Miller a clear path. The coach has built a culture around toughness, accountability and analytics driven shot selection. For Miller, this means maximizing his three point efficiency, staying disciplined on cuts and proving he can hit clutch free throws. Birdsong’s endorsement shines because it comes from a Cougars legend who demands proof over promises.
And there it is – a roadmap from a franchise icon expecting real growth from Master P’s son. Did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ Sports
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
