Indiana State Forward Excelling
(St. Louis, MO) – When Indiana State signed NAIA all-American Ian Scott there weren’t champaign bottles popping and recruiting gurus didn’t set the internet on fire. Now, Missouri Valley Conference watchers view Scott, who is a ‘jack of all trades’ as a possible all-MVC player.
The 6’7 forward ranks among Valley leaders in nine different categories and as of mid-December he was ranked in the top ten nationally in field goal percentage. Scott scores (13.4 ppg), rebounds (7.9), distributes (2.7) and steals (1.7). This jack of all trades doesn’t even know he’s doing it.
All that he’s trying to do is play winning basketball. The Sycamores are 6-4 and improving with each game and Scott is its current MVP.
After scoring over 1,600 points and grabbing over 900 rebounds in four years at Grace College, Scott enthusiastically looked in to playing somewhere for his bonus year of eligibility. As an Indian native and the son of two Indiana State graduates, Terre Haute was definitely a place he would investigate.
The Sycamores are an older team and yet relatively new to one another. Scott, Sterling Young, Xavier Hall and Jo Van Buggenhout are newcomers that are playing heavy minutes for this year’s team. While coach Matthew Graves is on medical leave dealing with a heart issue, Associate Head Coach Mark Slessinger has taken over.
Scott says the team’s offense is improving and getting ‘cleaner’. He has experience from his previous stop dealing with a coach having some health issues.
Jack of All Trades – Loving the Community
Scott came to Indiana State with an open mind. He believed he could compete and contribute, but he wasn’t completely sure how his transition to Division 1 would proceed. His stellar NAIA career and abilities have proven to be equally effective at the highest level of college hoops.
He didn’t look to become a star, he wanted to contribute to winning basketball games in the Sycamore uniform.
His parents both attended ISU and his mother (Livia Hester Scott) was an outstanding basketball player. His sister (Ella) is on the Sycamore volleyball team. He loves playing at the Hulman Center and he truly enjoys the feel of campus life at Indiana State University.
The Sycamores visit Milwaukee on Sunday and begin Missouri Valley Conference play by hosting Bradley on December 18.
Head to YouTube to watch our entire conversation. For an audio only version head to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts. You will find out who he refers to as a ‘bulldog’, ‘green light’, ‘Queens’, ‘Puppy Dog’ & ‘high flyer’.
Indiana State’s ‘jack of all trades’ is a player at affects winning and is a leader on this year’s Sycamore team. His overall game will be fun to watch during this MVC season.
Do Good
Editor: Cover photo of Ian Scott, courtesy of gosycamores.com.
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Obviously, this is a sentimental and not a ‘spreadsheet’ notion, but would hate to see @MVCsports change the #ArchMadness format from the traditional ‘family reunion’ feel by cutting teams from the experience. #FatherHarry
Another nice @MVCsports basketball schedule announcement. #FatherHarry . .
Congrats to @ISURedbirdGolf. T.J. Barger sets a school record. Pietro Pontiggia records the Redbirds' second-ever top 20 finish at a regional. The team finishes tent in the region which is tied for the program's best regional finish! #FatherHarry
Love so much about what @CoachGraves10 is doing for @IndStBasketball.
