Shayla Scott shoots for own Pitt hoops legacy

The No. 25 has been lucky for Pitt freshmen this year.

First, football’s LeSean McCoy set… The No. 25 has been lucky for Pitt freshmen this year.

First, football’s LeSean McCoy set freshmen records for points and rushing touchdowns. Now, Shayla Scott is on her way to making history in her own freshman season for the women’s basketball team.

In her first seven games, she netted 39 points, recorded 38 rebounds and counted eight assists with an equal tally of steals.

The number she wears comes from her cousin who inspired her during their time with the Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU, as it’s more commonly known. She also credits her cousin for her start in basketball.

“I was 8, and I played, well, I sat on the bench with the 12-and-under AAU team,” she said. “And just being able to watch them was really inspiring, even though they were just 12, and I was eight.”

For Scott, basketball has always been a family affair.

“I come from a big basketball family,” Scott said.

“My uncle used to coach here, and my mom coached me in high school as well as him, and my dad’s a coach. It’s kind of in our blood.”

Scott’s mom was more than just her high school coach at Gateway High School in nearby Monroeville. Jennifer Bruce Scott is the second-leading scorer of all-time in Pitt history.

She scored 2,295 points in her four years with the Panthers.

But Scott’s mom says they try to downplay the connection as much as possible – it’s Shayla’s turn now.

“It’s not about me,” the elder Scott said. “I just happened to play at the same college.”

Mostly, she’s just proud of her daughter.

“It is such an honor to see her out on that floor,” she said. “I know she’ll say it’s kind of crazy or corny but when they did the Fan Fest and they introduced her, I got little chills that my baby was playing at the same place I did – that she was playing Division-I at all.

“She never listened to the coach in high school,” Jennifer Bruce Scott joked. “No,” she said, “[when you’re coaching your own daughter] the expectations are higher, you don’t get as much praise. But I think it’s understood that they’re doing well and every once in a while you throw them a little bone.

“As she improved and got better it was the normal thing. She was treated like everyone else.”

Scott said having her mom wear the coach’s shoes made for a different playing experience.

“We’d go to away games, and I’d have to ride home in the car with the coach on the way home,” Scott said lightheartedly.

“But I think I really benefited from her being my coach and getting ready for what will take me to the next level.”

Both she and her mom agree that in this next level the girls are bigger, faster and stronger.

“She’s making some adjustments,” Scott’s mom said. “But I just hope she continues to work hard and get better and help her team win. That’s what it’s about – helping the team. And she’s such a team-oriented player.”

Scott, who graduated from high school with honors, said she plans on majoring in education, business or sports management at Pitt.

“I think I want to pursue something in marketing or business management and just stay around sports and athletics,” she said.

“I’m a big sports fan so I think staying in that area would be something I’d like.”

Basketball hasn’t been all success though. Scott, like most athletes, has experienced some more disappointing moments.

“My worst sports memory was in my junior year of high school,” she said.

“It was the game before the championship and my teammate had missed a free throw.

“We were down by one and I was able to tip it in with .4 seconds left, and they called over-the-back on me at the buzzer.

“I wasn’t really over the back, and I was pretty upset about that,” she said.

“We lost by one.”

Scott included choosing Pitt as one of her most cherished basketball moments.

“Starting a whole new chapter at this level with teammates and new coaching staff is really exciting,” she said.

With a great start already underway, Scott said she’s optimistic for the rest of the season.

“I think we’re going to go a long way,” she said. “We’re a pretty experienced team, and [Pitt] was in the NCAAs last year so that’s a big goal of ours.

“I’m excited to go even farther. I guess I have to hold it up for No. 25.”