Welsh to Compete in Reese's College All-Star Game
March 27, 2018 | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UCLA senior Thomas Welsh has been selected as one of 20 college seniors to compete in the annual Reese's Division I All-Star Game, as announced Tuesday by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
This season's Reese's College All-Star Game will be played at the Alamodome on Friday, March 30, prior to Saturday's Men's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
Welsh is one of three senior student-athletes from the Pac-12 Conference who will play in this season's game, joining Colorado's George King on the East All-Star Team. USC guard Jordan McLaughlin will compete on the West All-Star Team.
Friday's game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network, with tip-off slated for 1:35 p.m. (PT).
Welsh, a 7-foot center from Redondo Beach, Calif., averaged 12.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for the Bruins in 2017-18. He recorded UCLA's highest single-season rebounding average since David Greenwood in 1977-78 (11.4 rpg). Welsh earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors and was an honorable mention selection on the league's All-Academic Team.
Through four seasons in Westwood (2015-18), Welsh averaged 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in 132 contests (94 starts). He concluded his career ranking No. 3 on the UCLA's career rebounds list (1,035), behind Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Welsh also ranks No. 3 at UCLA in career blocks (143) and No. 5 in blocked shots per game (1.09).
During his senior season, he was named a second-team selection on the NABC Division I All-District team and secured USBWA All-District IX acclaim. In addition, he has been named as one of five national finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
Welsh scored in double figures in 23 of 32 games for UCLA in 2017-18, recording at least 10 rebounds in 22 contests. He recorded 18 double-doubles, the Bruins' highest single-season total since Kevin Love had 23 double-doubles as a freshman in 2007-08.
Other recent UCLA seniors who have competed in the Reese's College All-Star Game have included guards Bryce Alford (2017) and Larry Drew II (2013).