NEO Features Future Phenoms: Canaan Mercer & CJ Downing

NEO FUTURE STARS SPOTLIGHT

1^st Edition

Canaan Mercer and Chris “CJ” Downing, Jr.
Class of 2032

Last week, Canaan Mercer and C.J. Downing completed the 1^st grade but don’t blink as these two phenoms are headed for big things in High School Sports and beyond.  Canton has a dynamic duo that will have sports fans salivating at the prospect of them playing in the pro’s for their favorite teams!

Kee On Sports has been following this dynamic duo out of Canton, OH for the past nine months. During that time frame, Mercer and Downing led their flag football team to an unblemished 7-0 championship season.

With Mercer at the helm at Quarterback and Downing featured at Running Back and Slot Receiver, they outscored all opponents 201 to 91.

Over the winter, the pair of 7-year-old standouts headlined their basketball team to an 11-0 championship in which both players averaged nearly 20 points per game playing against 2^nd graders.

Most recently, the phenoms starred for the Canton Kings, a 1^st Grade AAU team out of Stark County who competed all Spring by playing up in 2^nd Grade AAU tournaments across Northeast Ohio.

The standouts helped the Kings win two tournaments and their roundball efforts culminated this past Memorial Day weekend in a massive tournament in Mason OH, which featured some of the top teams in America.

There, Mercer and Downing led the Kings to wins over three nationally ranked 1^st Grade teams, including a 47-45 Double Overtime victory over Indianapolis’ Hoosier Phenoms, the #2 ranked 1^st grade team in the country.

The Kings made it all the way to the finals before falling short in the championship game. But make no mistake, the Canton Kings are now on the AAU map.

At 4 feet 5 inches tall, Mercer is a dual-threat QB with exceptional field vision and speed. He has a cannon for an arm, throwing the pigskin on the money some 25-30 yards. He also plays Shortstop and is a switch-hitter at the plate for his undefeated baseball team.

Also checking in at 4 feet 5 inches tall, Downing not only has some of the best hands I’ve ever seen on a 7-year-old, but he possesses potentially future Olympic-sprinter speed.

Mark my words, Downing will be a state champion in track and field by the time he finishes high school. And if there is a faster 1^st grader in the state, give me a shout because I won’t believe it until I see it.

But most impressive is that they are not simply one-dimensional student-athletes, as both excel in the classroom, taking part in accelerated learning curriculum. And this summer, you can catch both Mercer and Downing starring on the gridiron for the 8u elite team for the Ohio Tigers Academy out of Massillon, OH.

If there are any NEO Future Stars you’d like to see covered, give us a heads up and allow us to celebrate them here.

Turn to page two and three for incredible Highlight videos on both, along with full player profiles.  These video’s are enough to make you want to stand up and cheer!

All video’s used in this feature, are property of and created by Don Wagner of NEO Youth Elite.