Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Ron starred in multiple sports. As a 6 foot 5 inch eight-grader he was elected to the 1991 All-Metro boys’ basketball team. He produced 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game to help the High School to a 20 win season. During Football season he quarterbacked the Middle School to its 2nd straight city title. He was highly recruited as a pitcher out of high school by many major league teams. In fact Mercer has stated that if he was not playing on the hardwood we he would playing baseball. By the time Ron was a sophomore in high school he had collages intrigued by his skill and athleticism. After an intense recruiting battle, in which every major Division I college came beckoning for Ron's services, Ron packed his bags and headed to Kentucky to play for Rick Pitino and the Wildcats.