Schelton was born in Oakland, California in 1976 to father Martin Ngoran Assoumou from the Ivory Coast, a member of the Akan ethnic community, and a Trinidadian mother, Maureen Williams. Schelton and his younger siblings, brother Stephane and sister Sabrina, had the benefits of an international upbringing, traveling frequently to Africa, Europe and South America.
Ingrained in their family life was the value of education: after having been the top student within the Ivory Coast, Martin became an engineering graduate from Columbia and returned for a time to the Ivory Coast to assist in the economic development of his country. After Brooklyn College, his mother has spent 40 plus years in international and US banking at Chase Manhattan and predecessors, Ecobank and SunTrust.
Schelton enhanced his global perspective during all phases of his education: he attended the Lycee Francais Jean Mermoz, a French International school in West Africa through middle school followed by the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle, a French International high school in England. He excelled both academically and athletically playing on the soccer, basketball and tennis teams through his formative years abroad. This global exposure also allowed him to become conversant in several languages including being fluent in English, French and Spanish.
After returning to the US, he continued to utilize that perspective while self-financing his attendance at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. At the University, he tutored fellow students and athletes in math and economics through his student government activities. He also served as Resident Assistant for three years which would help him develop his leadership skills and gain university recognition.
In addition to his scholarly achievements, he is an avid tennis player having begun his love for tennis as a member of the Ivory Coast junior national team. This activity continued as part of his high school and college programs. His love for tennis continues today. He also earned academic recognition as members of the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society and Golden Key National Honor Society. He was an Academic All American every year for all four years and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.