What He Carries

The first thing you notice is his shoulders. Eli Scott’s shoulders — thick and massive, like rolling hills — are a terrain unto themselves. In the 2020–21 men’s basketball season, Scott led the team in points, rebounds and assists and to a third-place finish in West Coast Conference standings. By then, he had achieved more than most players could desire: named a First Team All-WCC selection, passed 1,500 career points scored and recorded LMU’s first triple-double (reaching double figures in points, rebounds and assists in a game). In summer 2021, Scott decided to return to the bluff for a fifth season. Because he is a rare player who can put a team on his back, Scott, frequently facing three defenders, is the primary target of every opponent the Lions face. This season, Scott is proving that his shoulders are big enough to carry a team.