Berks Bests: Devon Merritt Looks Back on Record-Setting Career at Berks Catholic
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Editor's Note: This story is part of Berks Bests, a summer series spotlighting the all-time leading scorers from Berks County girls basketball programs. Throughout the summer, we'll revisit some of the greatest careers in local basketball history and catch up with the players who left their mark on their schools and communities.
Devon Merritt left behind a storied legacy and long trail of accomplishments when she graduated from Berks Catholic in 2016, yet her fondest memories are the friendships and relationships she built with her teammates and coaches.
"I sat next to Olivia Zdradzinski on the bus rides to and from games for four years," Merritt recently shared with BGB. "Just a year ago I stood beside her in her wedding. Moments like that really put into perspective how meaningful those relationships became."
Merritt, her teammates and coaches built a championship-caliber culture on and off the basketball court. The Saints appeared in the PIAA semifinals two consecutive seasons and in the District 3 championship in the latter.
"When you’re on a team with so many talented players, you need coaches who push you to be better and show up every single day," Merritt said. "They cared about us beyond basketball. They pushed us to become better teammates, better leaders, and better people."
The deep postseason runs and sheer individual talent resulted in Merritt accomplishing one of the greatest careers in Berks girls basketball history.
"Going into BC, I knew one of my biggest goals was to become a 1,000-point scorer," Merritt said. "Starting my sophomore year, I kept a note in my phone where I tracked my points after every single game until I got there. At 14/15 years old, it’s hard to know what your career will look like four years down the road, but from early on my two biggest goals were earning a Division I scholarship and becoming a 1,000-point scorer."
She did both.
The 6-2 forward tallied 1,730 career points, which ranks first in Berks Catholic history and 14th in Berks history. Merritt was the first Berks Catholic girl to score 1,000 points and her scoring total is No. 1 even when including players from Central Catholic and Holy Name, which combined to form BC in 2011.
Merritt was a two-time All-State selection, three-time All-Berks selection, and the Reading Eagle Athlete of the Year as a senior. Merritt led the Saints to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals in each of her final two seasons, including an appearance in the District 3 championship her senior year. She corralled over 1,000 rebounds and blocked more than 350 shots in her high school career.
As a junior, she averaged 17.2 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, and 3.1 blocks per game as the Saints finished 26-6. As a senior, she averaged 17.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 4.0 bpg.
Merritt doubled as a volleyball star. She won the state championship with the Saints and was selected All-America in 2015, but basketball won out.
"Playing basketball at Berks Catholic taught me that hard work and consistency can transform you into anything you want to become," Merritt said. "Talent can only take you so far, the biggest growth comes from showing up every day, staying disciplined, and continuing to push yourself even when no one is watching."
She continued to play at James Madison University. Merritt played in 114 total games during her career with the Dukes, starting 40. She averaged 5.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg for her career.
Her best season occurred during her junior year in 2018-19 when she averaged 7.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg. The Dukes were 25-4 before her senior season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, JMU went 103-30 during Merritt's four seasons.
"What stands out to me the most when I look back on my career at James Madison University is my teammates," Merritt said, echoing the sentiment from her high school days. "They got me through some of the hardest and most rewarding moments of my life. Being a student-athlete comes with a lot of pressure, long days, and challenges both on and off the court, and having a group of people beside you every single day made all the difference."
Merritt graduated with a degree in media arts and design. She has worked in government contracting supporting the United States Coast Guard, United States Department of State, and Federal Emergency Management Agency spending time in Fairfax, Va.; New York City; and Dallas, Texas.
She recently transitioned into team sales roles with SV Sports, landing her back in the Berks County area.
"I've really enjoyed the career change and the opportunity to take on new challenges in a fast-paced, relationship-driven environment while still staying connected to sports," Merritt said.
While she has hung up her basketball sneakers, Merritt continues to challenge herself physically by completing the Philadelphia Marathon in 2023 and she plans to run it again this year. She's hoping to run the Honolulu Marathon in December.
Even during her time outside of Berks County, Merritt has kept up with the high school basketball and volleyball scenes and respective athletes coming up in her hometown. She followed fellow Berks Countian Peyton McDaniel's standout collegiate career at their shared alma mater.
"It is so exciting and a little strange to see a new generation when I don’t feel old enough for there to be another generation," she said. "I do my best to catch a game when I can, and I am always rooting for them. I will forever be a Saint!
"The advice I would give is that you can achieve anything and reach any goal you set for yourself if you’re willing to put in the work. Nothing worth having comes easy, and success will not simply fall into your lap. You have to be willing to outwork others, stay disciplined, and continue pushing yourself to improve every day."
For now, she's held off the four additional Saints to join her on the 1K list from surpassing her: Dejah Terrell (1,290), Madison Langdon (1,247), Caraline Herb (1,140), and Caroline Reedy (1,053).
"I am proud of myself for the things I achieved in my high school career," she said. "I am sure I won’t hold the title forever, but I think the best thing you can give a program is a new ceiling to reach. I believe records are made to be broken."
It'll take a special talent to get to 1,731.
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