WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season
By Tuck Clarry
3. Loyola Marymount
Perhaps the most grateful team to have a player withdraw from the Draft was the Lions with the knowledge that Eli Scott would be playing one more season in Los Angeles. Scott is playing his fifth season of college ball and is the centerpiece of this LMU roster. He’s a wing that runs the offense, averaging 18 points 3.6 assists per game. He operates as a Draymond Green-type paint and midrange player who looks to pass as much as shoot. He also extends possessions with his plus rebounding ability. He averaged 2.5 offensive rebounds per game and 8.2 rebounds overall.
Scott was relied on heavily in large part because of the midseason injury of Dameane Douglas that kept him out. Douglas was looking to be the second option on the offense, where he can score at all three levels, providing both elite driving abilities and outside shot. He has shot 46% from three over his collegiate career. Douglas has battled injuries for the majority of his time at LMU but if he can find a way to stay healthy the Lions become a truly great team.
Adding transfer Cam Shelton all but ensures that Scott will not need to work as hard to initiate the offense and won’t need to deal with as many stacked defensive looks. Shelton joins the Lions after winning Big Sky Player of the Year with Northern Arizona and averaging 19.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 5.9 rebounds. Shelton can do it all and was aggressive with his shot due to the level of talent surrounding him in Northern Arizona.
The addition of Shelton as the point guard also helps Joe Quintana play off-ball in his more natural position as a scoring guard. Quintana handled the ball a lot last year which stopped him from getting the looks that would maximize his 3-point shooting (43% last season).
Add the defensive ability the Lions displayed last year and this may be LMU’s best team in decades. The five benefits of sacrificing size for athleticism with a small-ball profile. Keli Leaupepe is just 6-foot-6 but is a physical defender that also provides solid shooting on the offensive side. Senior Ivan Alipiev is another stretch-four that can guard post players competently.
The Lions have the discipline, maturity, and scoring to contend in every game this season. They have three guys in Scott, Shelton, and Douglas who can score at will. If they can capitalize on their upside, they have an inside shot at making the tournament and fighting the two behemoths at one and two on this list.