Biography
CAREER
2023-24 SENIOR - Cemented his status as one of the best players in school history with a record-breaking campaign … was selected as the 2024 Bevo Francis Award winner, given to the best player among all of small college basketball (NCAA Div. II, Div. III, NAIA, junior colleges) … named the NAIA National Player of the Year, the first honor in program history … named the NCCAA National Player of the Year … named 2024 Crossroads League Player of the Year … earned a spot on the 2024 NAIA All-Tournament Team … helped Grace post a 34-2 record and advance to the NAIA Fab Four … averaged 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.9 assists per game … shot 63 percent from the floor, 37 percent on 3-pointers and 81 percent from the free throw line … graduates ranked No. 1 in career blocks (308), No. 9 in career points (1,953) and No. 9 in career rebounds (1,017) … also graduates with the best career field goal percentage in Grace history (65 percent) … Grace’s first NAIA First Team All-American since 2013 … one of six Lancers to repeat as an NAIA All-American … scored in double figures in 34 of Grace’s 36 games, despite averaging 24.5 minutes per game … posted nine double-doubles … scored a season-high 28 points against St. Xavier … averaged 24.0 points per game during Grace’s three victories over Indiana Wesleyan … had 26 points, 7 blocked shots, 5 rebounds and 4 three-pointers during Grace’s rout on the road at IWU … had 20 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a win over St. Francis … was named the Crossroads League Player of the Week three times and the NCCAA Player of the Week twice.
2022-23 JUNIOR - Started all 35 games in one of Grace’s best seasons in team history … cemented his spot as one of nation’s top players when he was named NAIA Second Team All-American … became Grace’s first NAIA First, Second or Third Team All-American since 2013 … named NCCAA First Team All-American … was honored as Crossroads League First Team and All-Defensive Team … averaged 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories … shot 62 percent overall from the floor and 35 percent on 3-pointers … swatted 87 shots for an average of 2.5 per game … erupted for 29 points in Grace’s dramatic road comeback win at No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan, outplaying IWU’s All-American center … scored a career-best 34 points (on 12 of 15 shooting) to power Grace by (#RV) Marian in the semifinals of the Crossroads League Tournament … scored in double figures in 29 of Grace’s 35 games, including 14 straight games to end the year … had seven double-doubles on the season … racked up 12 points, 11 boards and a program-record 8 blocked shots in a road win at No. 3 Arizona Christian … tallied 19 points and eight rebounds in the Crossroads League Tournament championship win over No. 15 Huntington … converted an and-1 with nine seconds remaining to beat Mt. Vernon Nazarene on the road by one point … averaged 17 points per game during Grace’s season sweep of rival Bethel … notched 20 points, 11 boards and 5 blocks against St. Francis … finished with 19 points, 6 blocks and 5 rebounds to beat No. 21 Freed-Hardeman at NAIA Nationals.
2021-22 SOPHOMORE - Earned a spot on the All-Crossroads League Second Team … produced one of the most efficient seasons in team history, tallying 14.0 points per game while shooting 69.7 percent from the floor and 58.5 percent from the 3-point line … set the record for highest shooting percentage in a single season at .697 … was a force in the paint, leading Grace with 7.7 rebounds per game and 2.0 blocks per game … his 71 blocks ranked No. 9 in the NAIA … had eight double-doubles … scored in double figures 26 times, including nine games of at least 20 points … cemented his status at the national stage with an incredible performance to beat No. 11 Olivet Nazarene in the NAIA Opening Round, outplaying ONU’s All-American center with 32 points (11-14 FG, 5-7 3FG), 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks … averaged 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in Grace’s three NAIA tournament contests, including 17 points, 6 boards and 2 blocks against Cumberlands and 18 points, 9 boards and 3 blocks against Idaho … tallied 15 points and six rebounds as Grace beat No. 12 Marian in the championship of the Crossroads League Tournament … had 11 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in Grace’s semifinal win (CL Tournament) at No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan … scored 28 points on 13 of 16 shooting against Siena Heights, adding nine rebounds and two blocked shots … amassed 20 points, 17 boards and 3 blocks in a double overtime win over Cornerstone … swatted seven shots to beat Judson, ending the game on triple-double watch with 14 points and 10 boards … had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks as Grace beat West Virginia Tech, who was receiving votes in the NAIA … tallied 12 points, 12 boards and 3 blocks as Grace took down No. 1 St. Francis … had 11 points, 8 boards and 5 blocks in Grace’s win over No. 11 Marian … named league Player of the Week on Nov. 8.
2020-21 FRESHMAN - Played in all 32 games with 13 starts as a true freshman … averaged 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds … shot a team best .696 from the floor … ranked 5th in the NAIA with 60 blocks … scored season-high 20 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in upset win over No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan … recorded 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists against Taylor … scored double figures 17 times, including six straight games late in the season … produced 17 points and 9 rebounds vs. Bethel ...season high 10 rebounds against East-West and Lancaster Bible … finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds against Alice Lloyd in NCCAA National Tournament.
PREP - A versatile forward from Prairie Heights… produced 15.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a senior… shot 72 percent from the floor during the 2019-20 season… helped Prairie Heights to an 18-6 record and a No. 9 ranking in the final 2A poll… small school All-State honoree in 2019.
COACH SCOTT’S COMMENTS: “‘There's this 6'8 kid from Prairie Heights that is pretty good' is all I kept hearing about back at the beginning of the season. I finally had the chance to go see Elijah play and knew instantly the boy could play. He is very skilled for a big man and offers much more than size. He can shoot it, pass it, and loves to rebound. But the best quality that Elijah brings is his enthusiasm for his teammates, and I can't wait to see that with our team!"
GET TO KNOW ELIJAH
Major: Marketing
Dream job: Professional basketball player
Favorite movie: Hard Ball
Something interesting about me: I play chess
Favorite TV show: Family Guy
Life verse: Romans 12:13
Best thing about Grace Basketball: My teammates
If I didn’t play my sport, I’d play… Football
Why I chose Grace: The great community
My hidden talent: Backflips off of diving boards
