There are certain special athletes in Pro Sports that make a fan stand up straight in their seats in an instance erasing any more interest from their cell phone interactive play with friends when they step on the floor or field. For instance when a Tom Brady has one minute to play and has to lead his team up the field for a come from behind win as he has done 37 times in his career and can dazzle fans with his lightening quick crisp passes, a Lionel Messi who usually looks as interested on the field as a satisfied Lion who can´t eat anymore steaks for a midday snack at the zoo, but can change a game at the blink of an eye with his quick reflections, speed and touch with the ball, or Boston Red Sox Slugger David Ortiz who is known as Big Papi and reminds one of former Red Sox slugger George the bopper Scott with his menacing body structure who has exceeded the 400 home run mark and was given a plaque in 2005 being named the greatest slugger in Boston Red Sox history for having the knack of making the big hit in key situations helping his team survive and get another big victory. Then again there are other athletes that may not have the overall massive high profile in sports society as these legends, but can gain that instant interest from fans when they step on the court. Ex Skyliner Ted Scott was a fairly unknown basketball player in the Beko BBL until he stepped on the court in Trier in 2012 and got those first Trier fans to cringe in their seats as he unleashed his first jumper finding nothing but net and then making a lay in giving the Fraport Skyliners the 11-9 lead in the first quarter. For the few Skyliner fans that made the trip to Trier it was a pleasant surprise to see his quick production while for Trier fans seeing this explosion could have had some uttering the famous movie words great scott. The movie quote Great Scott is best known from the classic Back to the future movies where the mad professor Christopher Lloyd utters the words when there is a distress moment. The first entrance by Ted Scott had to have had people notice, but when he came on the floor in the second quarter showing that not only ex Bamberg guard Brian Roberts or ex ratiopharm Ulm guard Isiah Swann can score in bunches and hit two consecutive jumpers propelling the Fraport Skyliners on their best run of the game, the phrase great scot would have been perfect if the famous great scott phrase from Christopher Lloyd would have been played in the arena over the loud speaker. The only thing missing was TBB Trier mascot Aggi getting into a fight with the real Aggi to supply some commotion away from the brilliant play of Scott.
Ted Scott hails from the beautiful state of Ohio that hasn´t been known for producing constant winning teams as professional clubs like the Cleveland Browns, Indians or Cavaliars could attest for. However one thing that Ohio does harvest is an influx of consistent basketball talent year in and year out reaching the NBA or the highest level in Europe. The list goes on and on as guys like Lebron James, John Havlicek, Ron Harper, Clark Kellogg, Jerry Lucas, Charles Oakley, or Michael Redd come from Ohio just to name a few. The whole phenomenon of why so many talented players come from Ohio is not always easy to explain even though players do admit that the basketball education has a lot to do with it besides just the natural talent that there is with basketball players. Two years ago, former Frankfurt Skyliner Seth Doliboa who is from Ohio also stays humble about why so many good players come from Ohio, but knew one special trait of the American. “I don t know if it s due to Ohio or not, but Ted has great basketball instincts”, stressed Seth Doliboa. Scott played his college career at West Virginia State from 2004-2009. He was able to improve his scoring in his first four years each season and shot 40% or more in four of his five years. He was All-WVIAC Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009. In the 2007-2008 season, he averaged 29.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3Pts: 54.5%, FT: 85.7%. In his senior year, he averaged 23.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3Pts: 34.6%, FT: 82.8%. He never shot less than 81;5% from the free throw line which also showed that his shooting is his trademark. However describing him as a shooter seems to be too vague. “I would more describe Ted as a scorer than a shooter. When I hear shooter I think about someone that just spots up or majority of his shots are threes. Ted has a complete game. He takes what the defenses give him”, stressed ex Frankfurt Skyliner Anthony Fischer who played with Scott in Poland.
Scott wasn´t drafted by the NBA and came over to Europe in 2009-2010 and tried his luck and played for ISS Sportino Inowroclaw (Poland-PLK) playing 10 games: 20.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 81.5%; in Jan.’10 moved to Ferro-ZNTU Zaporozhye (Ukraine-Superleague): 1 game: 2pts. Already in his rookie season, he showed what he was capable of doing, but it wasn´t until his second season where he tore up the Polish league playing for SKK Kotwica Kolobrzeg. His ex teammate Anthony Fischer remembers that he didn´t have to decide long who the American reminded him of most. “Ted reminds me of Monta Ellis. A flat out scorer. Whether its set shots, pull-ups, getting to the rim, he does it all”, added Anthony Fischer. Scott took the league by storm leading the league in scoring at a very high 25.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 83.5%. Leading a European league in scoring is already difficult, but being so consistent and dominating averaging 25,4ppg is rare. “He has ultimate confidence in his game and ability. Ted has the edge mentally. He has no fear. Probably the most competitive guy I’ve been around. He can single handily dominate a game. A pure scorer”, commented Anthony Fischer. It was a very long night for many opponents when Ted Scott was on the floor, but his teammates had the luxury of watching an amazing player do his craft. “I saw Ted put up 40 in a game with some Air Force Jordan’s on. When he gets rolling its going to be a long day for the opposition and enjoyable to watch being on his team. During a game your always amazed by this guy. He hits some tough shots. Sometimes you get caught up watching him and not realize you have to play too”, smiled Anthony Fischer. Another player that saw first hand how destructive Scott can be on the court was Holy Cross alumnist Torey Thomas who played with BBC Bayreuth guard Kevin Hamilton and for PGE Turow Zgorzelec when he faced off against Scott. “The 1st game was at his place and they won he hit some huge shots down the stretch to win in overtime and the 2nd game at our place we won. Taking apart defenses continues to be what he does best. “, stressed Torey Thomas. “Being a scorer he has to have the eye for it. He knows how to get buckets no matter what kind of defense you are in. He can pass and rebound well for his size. He attracts so much attention that its easy for him to find the open man”, warned Anthony Fischer.
In 2011-2012, it seemed like after such a huge performance in Poland that he might be able to make the next step, but instead seemed to take a step backwards going to the lower Portugal league and playing for traditional club Benfica Lisabon. He didn´t lose his focus and was an instrumental part of their success leading the team to the league title. He averaged 17,0ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 82.3%. It was there that ex Skyliner Seth Doliboa was able to play with him. Doliboa was able to see another interesting trait in the American. “ You will see that the combination of his athleticism and shooting ability is very rare”, added Seth Doliboa. When the season was on the line, Scott was able to show his clutch play. “We went to game 5 that season for the finals on the road. It was a very close and intense game all the way through. Ted hit several big jump shots to quiet the crowd. Nothing like a quieting the gym on the road”, smiled Seth Doliboa.
Scott might not remember his scoring in his first Beko BBL game as well, mainly because the Fraport Skyliners stunk out the arena in the second half as they lost badly to TBB Trier 79-58. Even the helpful scoring of the Ohio native couldn´t change the game in the second half. After the game, Scott was relaxed and not happy about the game, but was very focused about how he wanted to help the team. It also seemed like he desperately tried to shake his scoring image a bit since there are other facets to his game. “ I feel that I am the raw raw guy. I try to get all involved and keep everyone on the same page. I can get vocal during games on the court. All teams need this and you can´t really get enough of it”, stressed Ted Scott. The American also showed good scenes on the court helping on the defensive end and was also vocal that his defense is important to him. “When Ted puts his mind to it he can lock up. He’s quick athletic and strong. All the qualities you need to be a good defender. Really good at being in passing lanes too. He just has to commit to it every position”, warned Anthony Fischer. The Beko BBL didn´t only see his scoring and shooting wreck havoc, but other qualities in his game. “Being a scorer he has to have the eye for it. He knows how to get buckets no matter what kind of defense you are in. He can pass and rebound well for his size. He attracts so much attention that its easy for him to find the open man”, stressed Anthony Fischer. Ex Skyliner Seth Doliboa who had a good relationship with current Skyliner captain Marius Nolte back during the 2009-2010 season also mentioned that his friend should not take Scott too lightly when he is making a flight to the hoop. “
Don t let Ted s size fool you. I saw him dunk on several people last year in practice. I don t want to say any names. Marius better be careful”, warned Seth Doliboa.
After his big game in Trier, giving him the nickname of Ted “Great” Scott would seem appropriate since opposing teams might just be saying that after he leaves the floor leaving the opponent in awe. Scott didn´t have to hesitate long when asked what his nickname is. “I am the candy man, because I like to eat a lot of candy”, laughed Ted Scott. Fischer remembered that sweets was a favorite of his, but also that the overall picture of Scott fits. “That kid is always eating sweets. I got a lot of nicknames for him. He’s a character. Good dude to be around”, remembers Anthony Fischer. “Ted is a great guy to have on your team. He always has good spirits and is always ready to make the big play”, remembers Seth Doliboa. Torey Thomas who was beaten once by Scott, but won the other game has his own special nickname of him. “The microwave,because he heats up fast”, smiled Torey Thomas. Scott might not be ex Detroit Piston Vinny Johnson, but the Fraport Skyliners would have been very happy, if he could have been their own microwave this season. Unfortunately his stay wasn´t a long one with the Fraport Skyliners as he didn´t get his short term contract extended in January 2013. With the Fraport Skyliners, the Ohio native played 12 gamesaveraging 13.5ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 49.3%, 3FGP: 32.0%, FT: 81.8%. ATt that stage of the season, the Fraport Skyliners were clinging on to their lives as they were near the bottom of the Beko BBL standings and management had to make changes and did releasing Scott and Dion Dowell. In the end, the play of Scott just didn´t convince head coach Muli Katzurin for a contract extension. Scott scored in double figures in ten of the 12 games, but perhaps just his consistent scoring wasn´t enough for a team that was more than just struggling. Scott then finished up the season in Spain with Melilla Baloncesto (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 8 games averaging 14.8ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 94.4%. It will be interesting where Ted Scott ends up in 2013-2014, but one thing is for sure, his affection for candy and his hot shooting definitely spell sweet and could help any team in Europe.
German Hoops 