Herbie Merritt was a four-year basketball letterman, helped Tech capture its first OVC co-championship in 1956, and spearheaded the drive to the school's first outright crown two years later. He led the team in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game, and finished with 834 rebounds. In 1955, he was given the team's MVP tag and, in 1958, he earned the H.J. Shanks Award and was named All-OVC. He was then drafted by the Detroit Pistons of the NBA where he played one game before being released.