Welton averaged 22.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season. (Photo courtesy of Aurora University)

Spartan tabbed as preseason All-American
AURORA, Ill. -- Aurora University Spartan men's basketball standout junior forward Larry Welton was named to the D3hoops.com 2006-2007 men's basketball preseason All-American team. Welton was honored by the D3hoops.com as a Second-Team preseason All-American entering the 2006-2007 season.

Welton, in his first two seasons as a Spartan, has etched his name in the AU men's basketball record books. Following the 2005-2006 season, he was named to The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and D3hoops.com All-American teams. The NABC selected him as a Third-Team All-American and he was named Honorable Mention All-American by D3hoops.com. Additionally, he was named NABC Midwest All-District First-Team and D3hoops.com Second-Team All-Midwest region.

The prestigious awards keep racking up for Welton in his first two plus seasons as a Spartan. He has been honored with the NABC and D3hoops.com awards, as well as being named Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) Player of the Year and All-Conference as both a freshman and sophomore. His tremendous sophomore season included his becoming the 26th member of the AU 1,000 point club and finishing his second year at AU in 18th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,177 points. Welton led the Spartans to a 16-11 record and averaged 22.8 points (12th in NCAA Division III) and 8.5 rebounds per game

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 NABC Second-Team All-American, 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 and the Spartan men open up the 2006-2007 season on Friday, November 17, 2006 when they travel to the Wabash College-Little Giant Classic. AU will take on Indiana University-South Bend at 6:00 p.m. in Crawfordsville, IN.

Courtesy of Aurora University, Sports Information Department, November 9, 2006.