Spencer Nelson

infobox Euroleague Player
name = Spencer Nelson
nickname = (None)
position = Forward
height_ft = 6 | height_in = 8
weight_lbs = 225
league = Greek League
ULEB Cup
team = Aris BC
number =
nationality = American
birth_date = birth date and age|1980|7|11
birth_place = Pocatello, Idaho
highschool = Pocatello
college = Utah State
career_start = 2005
career_end =
former_teams = GHP Bamberg (2005–2006)
Benetton Treviso (2006–2007)
Climamio Bologna (2007–2008)
awards = Italian Cup MVP 2007

Spencer Howells Nelson (born July 11, 1980 in Pocatello, Idaho) is a professional basketball player, currently playing for Aris BC in Greece. At 6'8", he plays both forward positions, although he is mainly considered as a power forward. Nelson is married to Julie Clayton Nelson [cite news | url=http://media.www.utahstatesman.com/media/storage/paper243/news/2006/09/01/WeddingNews/Julie.ClaytonSpencer.Nelson-2238861.shtml | title=Julie Clayton-Spencer Nelson | author=The Utah Statesman | date=September 1 2006] and they currently live in Italy.

High School

Spencer attended Pocatello High School and was named the Idaho A-1 Player of the Year as a senior in 1998. He averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two blocks per game as a senior. Hit 43.3 percent of his three-pointers and sank 73.0 percent of his free throws as a senior. As a junior, he averaged 14.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and shot 62.5 percent from the field. Earned second-team all-state honors and first-team all-region honors as a junior. Spencers abilities were not limited to the basketball court as he was a four-year letterwinner in tennis, claiming the men's doubles state championship in 1998 and finishing third in mixed doubles in 1997.

College

After his freshman year, he went on a two-year mission to Oklahoma, serving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he became one of the Big West Conference's best players. [ [http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/nelson_spencer00.html Men's Basketball-Spencer Nelson Profile] ]

Nelson had a stellar career as an Aggie and was named to the Utah State University All-Century Team while still playing for Utah State. [cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20050302/ai_n11844652 | title=Aggies' Nelson puts team first | author=Deseret News | date=March 2 2005]

Professional Basketball

After graduating in 2005 , he was not drafted in the 2005 NBA Draft. However, he was invited to try out for the Utah Jazz. He was an immediate fan favorite because of his success at Utah State. Despite playing well, Nelson was not chosen for the final roster, but was immediately offered a spot playing for GHP Bamberg in Germany. In 2006, instead of seeing if he'd make the final roster for the Jazz, Nelson chose to play for Benetton Treviso, a team that he made an outstanding performance against while playing with Bamberg in the Euroleague (he scored 23 points, pulled down 20 rebounds and delivered 7 assists) in a 92-85 home win [ [http://217.13.116.51/stats/statsPartido.jsp?temporada=E05&jornada=8&partido=88 Bamberg vs. BENETTON B, TREVISO] ] .Nelson's good performance helped the team qualify for the top 16 phase, the first ever German team to accomplish this achievement.
After spending one season with Treviso, mainly coming from the bench, Nelson transferred to Climamio Bologna, also in Italy.

Awards

High School

* 1997-98 Idaho A-1 Player of the Year

College

* 2002-03 Big West Player of the Week (1/13/03)
* 2002-03 Utah State Most Inspirational Player
* 2002-03 Academic All-Big West
* 2002-03 Big West Hustle Player of the Year
* 2002-03 All-Big West Honorable Mention
* 2003-04 Big West Player of the Week (1/12/04)
* 2003-04 Utah State Most Inspirational Player
* 2003-04 Multiple Sclerosis Society Utah State Chapter Collegiate Male Athlete of the Year
* 2003-04 Academic All-Big West
* 2003-04 Big West Hustle Player of the Year
* 2003-04 Big West Second Team All-Conference
* 2004-05 Big West Player of the Week (12/20/04) [cite news | url=http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122004aaa.html | title=Spencer Nelson Named Co-Big West Player Of The Week | author=Utah State Official Athletic Site | date=December 20 2004]
* 2004-05 Big West Player of the Week (1/31/05) [cite news | url=http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/013105aaa.html | title=Spencer Nelson Named Big West Conference Player Of The Week | author=Utah State Official Athletic Site | date=January 31 2005]
* 2004-05 Big West Player of the Week (2/7/05) [cite news | url=http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020705aaa.html | title=Spencer Nelson Named Big West Conference Player Of The Week | author=Utah State Official Athletic Site | date=February 7 2005]
* 2004-05 Utah State Most Inspirational Player
* 2004-05 Cecil Baker Most Valuable Player
* 2004-05 Utah State Male Athlete of the Year
* 2004-05 Utah State Big West Scholar-Athlete
* 2004-05 Big West All-Tournament Team
* 2004-05 Big West First Team All-Conference
* 2004-05 Big West Hustle Player of the Year
* 2004-05 United States Basketball Writer's Association All District 8 Team [cite news | url=http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031005aaa.html | title=Spencer Nelson Adds All-District 8 Honors To His Collection | author=Utah State Official Athletic Site | date=March 10 2005]
* 2004-05 CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Player of the Year [cite news | url=http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040505aaa.html | title=Spencer Nelson Named Mid-Major Player Of The Year | author=Utah State Official Athletic Site | date=April 5 2005]

Professional

External links

* [http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/library/ust-all_century.html Utah State University All-Century Team]

References