Jordan Scott said his college transition was difficult at first.
 
"When basketball started you don't think of anything else. It slowed down and that was tough," he said.
 
College continued to be hard for Scott during his sophomore year. The Colorado Springs native started asking questions — Why do I play basketball? Why am I here? What's my purpose?
 
"Religion wasn't something I consciously thought about, but when things got hard, I started questioning, 'What do I really believe?'" he said.
 
During his search for answers, a friend brought him to church.
 
"I don't remember the sermon or the music," he said "They talked about the gospel and I was sitting there and it hit me, the magnitude of the fact that God loved me so much he sent Jesus to die on the cross for me."
 
Scott started attending Resonate Church. He went on a mission trip this summer. Learning to live and love intentionally has changed him as a person and a basketball player.
 
Before religion, Scott said his life was filled with extreme highs and lows.
 
"When I started getting good at basketball, my self worth was based on my basketball performance," he said. "But realizing I'm loved unconditionally because of what Jesus did, who I am is not founded on who I am as a basketball player. I can enjoy it because the game doesn't change who I am. It added a lot of joy to the sport."
 
"I learned a lot about God's character and I wanted to know more. I wanted to know what it looked like to follow after Jesus more intentionally," he said. "That the question, I still don't have a great answer for that but I believe there's a reason I'm here."
 
Scott said he still has doubts, but isn't worried.
 
"I don't think there's a need to argue or validate what I believe," he said. "You hear a lot of people say the purpose of the world is love and I would agree with that, but I think you have to define what love is. I know where I can find it, I know Jesus offers this."
 
Scott spent the summer in San Diego participating in Elevate, a 10-week program for students from UI and Washington State, through Resonate Church. 90 students from the two colleges attended.
 
"We spent time learning about ourselves and God, who he is," he said.
 
The attendees spent time working and doing volunteer mission work, like helping the homeless.
 
"Living intentionally, you learn a whole lot about each other, talk about Jesus and what that means for our lives," he said.
 
Scott said he thinks his playing has grown more consistent, now that he doesn't base his self-worth on how he plays. It makes him a better leader too.
 
"Being a fifth year guy, I've seen a lot and I can share what I've learned, nuances of the game and the system, help them learn," he said.
 
Scott will finish his master's degree in Adult, Organizational Learning and Leadership in the summer.
 
"The degree is broad, because I don't know what I want to do," he said. "I enjoy being around people because I feel like people are the only thing that isn't arbitrary and boring. People really matter and I want to find a way to be around them."