NABC Tabs Spartan as All-American

AURORA, Ill. March 24, 2005 - The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) named its 2004-2005 men’s basketball All-American teams. Aurora University Spartan freshman forward Larry Welton was honored by the NABC as a Second-Team All-American for his outstanding performance in his first collegiate season.

Welton (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood) was named NABC All-American after having been named NABC Midwest All-District First Team earlier in the week. The All-American recognition by the NABC is the first that the Aurora University men’s basketball program has received since the coaches organization began giving out All-American awards following the 1976-1977 season.

The award marks Welton’s sixth post-season award following his first season as a Spartan. In his freshman campaign, Welton averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and blocked 1.46 shots per game, while shooting 53 percent (220-415) from the field. Following the season, Welton was also named Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) Player of the Year, NIIC Newcomer of the Year, NIIC All-Conference, D3hoops.com, and NABC First-Team All-Region, as well as being named a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award.

Welton led the AU Spartans this season to a 23-5 record and a second-round appearance in the 2004-2005 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championships, where AU fell to Calvin College 71-59. AU went 11-1 in the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference and were regular-season and tournament NIIC champions. The regular season conference championship marked the Spartan men’s second consecutive conference title.

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