Former Men's Basketball Player and Wife Help Fight COVID-19
4/9/2020 8:48:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Emerson and his two brothers all played basketball at Mercer.
MACON, Ga. – After spending four seasons with the Mercer men's basketball program, Will Emerson traded in his uniform for a pair of scrubs and became known to coworkers and friends alike as Dr. Emerson. Now, Dr. Emerson and his wife, Dr. Best are serving others in the fight against COVID-19.
On the court, Emerson and both of his brothers starred for the Bears. Scott Emerson was the first brother to don the Black & Orange, arriving in Macon in 1999. He was joined by Will two years later in 2001. Will's playing days were completed after the 2005-06 season, but in 2009, the third Emerson to suit up for Mercer, Daniel, arrived on campus.
The trio is featured multiple times in Mercer's record books for both athletic and academic accolades.
Scott Emerson sits fourth on the Bears' all-time scoring list with 1,753 points, while Will ranks 36th with 1,050 points. Scott pulled down 930 career rebounds, the second most in program history. Daniel's name is mentioned 25 times alone. He holds the record for the most rebounds in a single season, grabbing 385 in 2009-10.
Will led the Bears in scoring and rebounding in 2004-05 with an average of 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. His 6.8 boards per contest the following season were also a team-high.
He was the first Mercer Bear to be named an ESPN Academic All-American, receiving first team honors in the spring of 2005 and 2006. W. Emerson was also a four-time Academic All-Conference selection during Mercer's days in the Atlantic Sun and was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2005. His wife, Dr. Gianina Best, who is also a Mercer alum, was involved with the Bears' Student Government Association.
After graduating, Emerson and Best embarked on the road to becoming medical doctors. The husband and wife duo earned medical degrees from the Medical College of Georgia in 2010 and completed their residencies at Vanderbilt University. Best focused on emergency medicine, while Emerson completed his residency in internal medicine. From there, life took them to the same Oregon hospital where Best is an emergency medicine attending and Emerson is a hospitalist attending.
The pair is just two of many physicians serving on the front lines during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but they know that Mercer prepared them for the medical field and even a moment like this, no matter how difficult it might be.
"We are so proud to be Mercerians," Dr. Best said. "Mercer gave us so much to prepare for where we are today, not only in education, but also in sense of community. We always felt like we were a part of a family while at Mercer. That sense of community and responsibility to helping one another has translated into the work we do today. We are grateful for all that Mercer did to prepare us for this."
How to Follow the Bears:Â
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
On the court, Emerson and both of his brothers starred for the Bears. Scott Emerson was the first brother to don the Black & Orange, arriving in Macon in 1999. He was joined by Will two years later in 2001. Will's playing days were completed after the 2005-06 season, but in 2009, the third Emerson to suit up for Mercer, Daniel, arrived on campus.
The trio is featured multiple times in Mercer's record books for both athletic and academic accolades.
Scott Emerson sits fourth on the Bears' all-time scoring list with 1,753 points, while Will ranks 36th with 1,050 points. Scott pulled down 930 career rebounds, the second most in program history. Daniel's name is mentioned 25 times alone. He holds the record for the most rebounds in a single season, grabbing 385 in 2009-10.
Will led the Bears in scoring and rebounding in 2004-05 with an average of 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. His 6.8 boards per contest the following season were also a team-high.
He was the first Mercer Bear to be named an ESPN Academic All-American, receiving first team honors in the spring of 2005 and 2006. W. Emerson was also a four-time Academic All-Conference selection during Mercer's days in the Atlantic Sun and was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2005. His wife, Dr. Gianina Best, who is also a Mercer alum, was involved with the Bears' Student Government Association.
After graduating, Emerson and Best embarked on the road to becoming medical doctors. The husband and wife duo earned medical degrees from the Medical College of Georgia in 2010 and completed their residencies at Vanderbilt University. Best focused on emergency medicine, while Emerson completed his residency in internal medicine. From there, life took them to the same Oregon hospital where Best is an emergency medicine attending and Emerson is a hospitalist attending.
The pair is just two of many physicians serving on the front lines during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but they know that Mercer prepared them for the medical field and even a moment like this, no matter how difficult it might be.
"We are so proud to be Mercerians," Dr. Best said. "Mercer gave us so much to prepare for where we are today, not only in education, but also in sense of community. We always felt like we were a part of a family while at Mercer. That sense of community and responsibility to helping one another has translated into the work we do today. We are grateful for all that Mercer did to prepare us for this."
How to Follow the Bears:Â
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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