Creighton coach Greg McDermott explains why Baylor Scheierman is a great fit for Boston

When asked about what he brings to the Celtics, Baylor Scheierman kept it simple:

“I’m a hard worker. I like to work, and I like to compete,” Scheierman said. “I like to just impact the game in any way I can. I like to impact winning, whether that’s diving on the floor, making threes, or blocking shots, whatever that might be. And I like to have fun while doing it. I think basketball, obviously, is a game that’s meant to be enjoyed, so when I’m out there on the court, I just like to have a lot of fun and like to compete.”

His head coach at Creighton, Greg McDermott, wholeheartedly agrees. However, McDermott emphasizes that the 23-year-old brings much more than just a strong work ethic. For his former coach, one word sums up Scheierman perfectly: winner.

“He is a winner,” McDermott told WEEI.com. “The guy has won everywhere he has been. Whether it’s high school football, South Dakota State, or Creighton, every team he’s been part of has been successful.”

Scheierman played two seasons under McDermott at Creighton, leading the Bluejays to a 25-10 record each season, with appearances in the Sweet 16 in his final season and the Elite 8 the previous year.

“It was awesome. He was a great leader,” McDermott said on his time coaching Scheierman. “He was an everyday guy who worked and really appreciated the fact that you can get a little bit better every day, and he made sure that happened. His leadership for our program was off the charts. Leading by example every day with the work that he put in and the positive attitude and energy that he brought to practice on a daily basis was instrumental in our success.”

Prior to his time at Creighton, Scheierman contributed to a South Dakota State team that finished first in the Summit League each of the three seasons he was there, compiling a dominant 68-22 record.

“He’s just a basketball player, man,” McDermott said. “And he’s a winner.”

The lefty is known for his shooting prowess. He knocked down a three-pointer in 48 consecutive games while at Creighton and made at least five in seven games last season. Throughout his collegiate career, Scheierman hit 39.0% of his three-point attempts, including 43.8% on 5.7 attempts per game in his sophomore season and 46.9% on 5.1 attempts in his junior season.

In his final season at Creighton, he shot 38.1% from distance on 8.3 attempts per game. While his lights-out shooting will undoubtedly catch the eye of Celtics fans, his game extends well beyond just his range.

“I mean, he led the Big-East in defensive rebounding from the guard position. I think that speaks to his toughness,” McDermott said. “He was a quarterback in high school, and he kind of plays basketball like that. He’s got great vision, really sees the floor, and, besides making plays for himself, can make plays for his teammates.”

As noted by McDermott, during his senior year of high school, the 6-foot-6 Scheierman excelled as a quarterback, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and a state-record 59 touchdowns. He also rushed for eight more touchdowns, leading his team to the Nebraska State Class C1 Football title. Like his coach, Scheierman believes his experience as a quarterback played a role in his development as a playmaker.

“I think it plays a big part,” Scheierman said. “Obviously, the quarterback in football, you have to know everything that’s going on on the field. You have to know what routes your receivers are running. You have to know what the defense is in. You have to know what routes beat certain defenses. You have to know it all. And it happens so fast. And I think in basketball, it’s kind of the same thing.”

This diverse athletic background translated well to basketball. The 23-year-old is the only men’s player in Division I history with at least 2,000 points (2,233), 1,000 rebounds (1,256), 500 assists (580), and 300 three-pointers (356).

But while the offensive versatility is evident, with his ability to knock down shots, space the floor, crash the boards, and act as a facilitator, there are some concerns about Scheierman’s defensive play. However, McDermott isn’t too worried.

“I think he is a very underrated defender,” the 2019-20 Big-East Coach of The Year said. “I think Boston will be surprised that he is probably a little better of a defensive player than they anticipated.”

“He’s physical, so that’s part of it. I think he does a good job of keeping people in front. And he’s tough, and that’s kinda where it needs to start on the defensive end: to play with some toughness and some grit.”

Toughness and grit are qualities highly valued by Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who built the team’s identity last season around humility, mindset, passion, togetherness, and intensity.

By all accounts, Scheierman fits that mold perfectly.

“He’s certainly not going to back down from anybody, I promise you that,” McDermott said. “The dude is tough, he’s confident, and he’s put in the work to back it up. He’s going to make Boston better. I really believe that.”

To McDermott, Scheierman’s impact on the Creighton program transcends statistical achievements. His infectious personality and competitive drive set an example that resonated throughout the team.

“That stuff is contagious, especially when somebody does it every single day,” McDermott said. “Baylor’s value to our program – obviously, the numbers and the numbers – the points, the rebounds, the assists, the double-doubles – but it’s what he did on a daily basis, with the example that he set, which was really incredible. He left his fingerprints all over our program, and we had a lot of success as a result.”

Scheierman’s mindset and winning pedigree suggest he’s a perfect fit for the Celtics. As he transitions to the NBA and competes for minutes on a talented roster, he seems well-prepared to embrace the challenge and make an impact in any way he can.

“I’m just really excited to have this opportunity in Boston and excited to get to work,” Scheierman said. “I’m, obviously, really excited to get there and meet everybody and my new teammates and really just try to be a sponge and learn from everybody and try to intake as much information as I can that will help me grow as a player in the NBA.”

“Being picked by this organization that just came off an NBA championship. An organization that, obviously, doesn’t just pick anybody to come into their team. It was an honor that they felt confident enough to pick me and felt like I could come in and just impact the team in any way I can and try to help them just continue this culture that they already have set.”