Matt Scott
Matt Scott has become a powerful presence on the U.S. Men's Wheelchair Basketball National Team since making the U.S. Paralympic Team in 2004 at the age of 18. In a short time, he has become a leader on the squad. Despite a rough road in Beijing, Scott will surely be on the team in 2012 as it looks to get on the medal stand.
Born with spina bifida, Scott was born and raised in Michigan as the second child of parents David and Audrey. He was first introduced to the game of wheelchair basketball at the age of 14 and quickly found success in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association's (NWBA) junior division, where he led his team to one undefeated season and two national championships and was selected as the MVP of the 2003 national tournament. During his junior year of high school, Scott began playing with the NWBA Division I Michigan Thunderbirds, with whom he played in two national championship games.
Scott attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and played on the Warhawks' wheelchair basketball team. He helped the team to three national championships (2004, 2005, 2007).
On New Year's Eve 2007 and New Year's Day 2008, Scott received national attention in a way no U.S. Paralympic athlete had done previously, starring in his own nationwide broadcast ad for Nike.
Major Achievements:
- 2009: European Champions Cup Winner
- 2009: Kitakyushu World Cup Champion
- 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Wheelchair Basketball - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2008: ESPY Nominee - Best Male Athlete with a Physical Disability
- 2008: First place - North American Cup, Birmingham, Alabama
- 2007: Gold medal - Parapan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2006: Silver medal - IWBF Gold Cup (World Championships), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 2004: Member of U.S. Paralympic Men's Wheelchair Basketball Team
- 2004: First place - Australian USA Challenge
- 2001: Bronze medal - Junior World Championships, Curitiba, Brazil
