Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson goes to the hoop against the Trail Blazers’ Robin Lopez, Friday, April 3, 2015, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

The compliments gushed out of Byron Scott’s mouth, perhaps as quickly as takes Jordan Clarkson to run up the court and score.

Scott said that Clarkson “single-handedly got us back in the game,” his team-high 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists perhaps the lone bright spot in the Lakers’ 107-77 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at Staples Center. Scott noted how Clarkson became vocal with unnamed teammates for their poor effort. Scott defended Clarkson, arguing Portland guard Damian Lillard’s 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting had more to do with the Lakers’ team defense than any of Clarkson’s defensive miscues.

Add it all up, and Scott revealed it feels “exciting” to how the 22-year-old Clarkson has “shown me a little bit more growth as a basketball player” nearly every game. Yet, it appears Clarkson’s ceilings could have limitations.

“We know he’s going to be on our team next year,” Scott said, referring to Clarkson’s team option for the 2015-16 season worth a relatively inexpensive $845,059. “But we have to add pieces. There’s no doubt about that. I don’t think we necessarily are saying we’re building around him. But we’re adding pieces with him.”

How those pieces add up remain intriguing.

Clarkson has nearly recorded two triple doubles in two consecutive games. He secured wins last week in Minnesota (free throws) and Philadelphia (layup). He scored a career-high 30 points last week against Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. Clarkson just earned the NBA’s Western Conference player of the month award.

After starting for the past 32 games, Clarkson has averaged a team-leading 15 points per game, 4.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He has ranked third among rookies in points per game (10.9), field goal percentage (.447), free throw percentage (.828), 5th in assists per game (3.1), and 13th in rebounds per game (3.1). All of which complicates Scott’s thought process on the Lakers’ future point guard needs.

“Definitely,” Scott said.

Yet, Scott could not definitively say if the Lakers would rule out seeking to acquire a point guard through the NBA draft or free agency. Such options in the draft involve Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay from China. Such free agency possibilities involve Dallas’ Rajon Rondo or Miami’s Goran Dragic.

“I don’t know that yet,” Scott said.

Scott also sounded uncertain if Clarkson would feel comfortable shifting to shooting guard with another elite point guard. The point went unspoken, but Kobe Bryant’s return from a right shoulder injury next season also provides another variable.

“It depends on who that point is,” Scott said. “We have to still build a roster to answer all those questions. You’re asking me stuff that will happen in the next three or four months from now or later. But I do know this that the kid will be on our team next year.”

There are plenty of reasons beyond Clarkons’ relatively inexpensive price tag.

Scott loves Clarkson’s confidence, which included hitting a pull-up jumper just before the third quarter ended. Scott praised Clarkson for tempering his speed. Scott also complimented Clarkson’s work ethic, the 46th pick in last year’s draft still showing interest in developing his game despite a minimal role until Bryant’s season-ending right shoulder injury in late January. Scott noted how Clarkson vocally expressed his displeasure with unnamed teammates over their defensive miscues, something Clarkson also did to Jordan Hill nearly two weeks ago.

“Most point guards in this league are very vocal,” Scott said. “They’re natural born leaders. Jordan has that in him as well. He’s trying to hold guys accountable for what they’re supposed to do when they don’t do it. That’s good.”

Where that takes Clarkson, however, remains unseen.

“He’s proven that he can definitely play in this league,” Scott said. “No doubt about that. Let’s add some pieces around him and see what happens. But he definitely can play in this league.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews,com