LUMBERTON — Jarad Scott has big goals for himself on the basketball court.
The 22-year-old Lumberton native, who helped Flora MacDonald Academy win its first-ever NCISAA state title in 2011, will be playing professional basketball this fall in Spain with hopes of one day earning a spot on an NBA team.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity. I’m just grateful for it and I’m trying to move up from here,” said Scott, who will be playing for Club de Baloncesto on the Spanish island of Lanzarote.
“My main goal is focusing on this season. I just want to win. I have some individual goals, but my main focus right now is winning.”
A 6-foot-8 forward, Scott played his college basketball at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., for three seasons before using his final year of eligibility last season at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
He averaged 12.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 28 games last year, shooting at a clip of 46 percent from 3-point range.
Scott said he’ll need to improve his overall game at the next level.
“I can score close to the basketball and from 3-point (range), but I’m working on my mid-range,” he said. “Also, I want to get better on defense.”
The son of Sharon Scott, Jarad is set to leave for Spain on Monday. He knows of one more American player on the roster, but is prepared for a culture shock when he arrives.
“Spain just happened to be where I ended up. … it’ll be experiencing a whole different culture,” he said. “It’s going to be completely different because they live in a completely different way than us. The language is one of the things I worry about, not being able to communicate with anyone until I pick it up.”
But still, the goal remains the same.
“I’d love to play in the NBA one day, he said. “I’m still young.”
