Scheierman commits to Creighton

BROOKINGS – Last year’s Summit League men’s basketball player of the year and former South Dakota State University student-athlete, Baylor Scheierman, has committed to play basketball at Creighton University next year.

Scheierman, who is originally from Aurora, Nebraska, announced his decision in a tweet: “Can’t wait to come home… Roll Jays.”

Creighton, located in Omaha, Nebraska, is a member of the Big East Conference.

Currently, Scheierman is “testing” the NBA Draft waters and was recently invited to compete in the NBA G-League Elite Camp, which is scheduled for May 16-17 in Chicago. The camp gives a select number of draft-eligible players to display their skills in front of NBA personnel and improve their draft stock ahead of the NBA Draft. Invited players will play in five-on-five games and participate in strength and agility drills.

Scheierman made headlines last month when he announced that he would be entering his name in the NBA Draft. After getting some feedback from scouts and draft experts, he subsequently decided to enter his name into the transfer portal.

“He wants to play for a winner. He wants the big stage. He wants the exposure,” said Austin Walton, Scheierman’s agent, to the Athletic last month. “He wants someone who is going to coach him hard and develop him to become an NBA player, whether that’s this year or next year. He wants to play with other really good players, because that unlocks him. He wants to showcase his versatility, show exactly who he is and a place that is going to allow him to be Baylor.”

After entering in the portal, a number of “blue-blood” schools from around the country, including Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina, reached out. Scheierman, who was training in Atlanta at Overtime Elite, quickly narrowed his list of schools to five. He chose Creighton over Arkansas, Nebraska, Clemson and Duke.

"I decided to commit to Creighton because I really like how they play," Scheierman said to ESPN. "They are an unselfish team who really share the ball, and that's what I'm used to and I enjoy playing that way. They also let their guys play free and loose, and I feel like I play my best in that type of system.”

Scheierman, who majored in Sport and Recreation Management at SDSU, has until June 1 to decide if he wants to stay in the NBA Draft. If he chooses to return to college basketball, he will have two years of eligibility remaining.

"They said I'm that missing piece that can take them to a national championship - and better yet, I can do it at home," Scheierman said to ESPN. "They have a great group of guys coming back that are very talented and know how to play the right way, and I think us together can do something special. Also, the opportunity to come home was an offer I couldn't resist."

SDSU head coach Eric Henderson has some connection to Creighton. Henderson got his start in college basketball when he joined then head coach Greg McDermott’s staff at Iowa St. as a graduate manager and learning specialist. McDermott is now the head coach at Creighton.

It is rumored that Scheierman got a significant Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal to go to Creighton but that is unconfirmed.

"It's actually funny because there was information getting out that, like, I was demanding this and that," Scheierman said to ESPN. "In all reality, I knew NIL was gonna be a part of it, but I told my parents at the beginning of the process that if I'm going back to school, I'm doing this to ultimately put myself in a better position for my pro aspirations."

Creighton, who was bounced in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament by eventual national champions Kansas, is expected to be a preseason Top-10 team after landing Scheierman.