University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA's Holiday, Welsh Selected in 2018 NBA Draft
June 21, 2018 | Men's Basketball
UCLA's Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh were both taken in the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Holiday was the No. 23 pick in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, while Thomas Welsh was chosen in the second round by the Denver Nuggets as the No. 58 overall selection.
Both Holiday and Welsh were instrumental for the Bruins in 2017-18. Holiday was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and led the conference in scoring during his junior campaign, averaging 20.3 points per game. Welsh secured second-team All-Pac-12 acclaim as a senior, averaging 12.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Holiday, a 6-foot-1 guard from Chatsworth, Calif., became the eighth first-round draft selection from UCLA in the past six years. Last season, he ranked second in the Pac-12 in assists per game (5.8) and became the first Bruin to lead the league in scoring since Reggie Miller (1985-86), who excelled with the Pacers from 1987 through 2005.
Holiday will re-join former college teammates TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu in the Pacers' organization. Indiana's roster also includes former UCLA guard Darren Collison, who starred at UCLA from 2006-09.
Through three seasons in Westwood, Holiday averaged 14.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 101 games. He concluded his UCLA career with 1,443 points, which ranks No. 25 on the school's all-time scoring list. He also ranks No. 5 in school history in career three-point percentage (42.2), No. 8 in career three-pointers made (180) and No. 9 in career assists (477).
Holiday will be joining his two older brothers in the NBA. Justin, who played at Washington from 2008-11, currently plays for the Chicago Bulls. Jrue, who played one season (2008-09) at UCLA, recently finished his eighth NBA season – his fourth year with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Welsh concluded his collegiate career ranking No. 3 on UCLA's all-time rebounding list (1,035) and blocks list (143). Through 132 career games, Welsh averaged 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, making 94 starts.
During his senior season, Welsh recorded UCLA's highest rebounding average (10.8 rpg) since David Greenwood tallied 11.4 rebounds per game in 1977-78. A resident of nearby Redondo Beach, Calif., Welsh graduated from UCLA with his degree in economics last weekend. He was a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic Team selection (2016, 2017) and secured honorable mention acclaim on the All-Academic Team in 2018.
Welsh was one of five finalists for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award and earned USBWA All-District IX acclaim. He scored in double figures in 24 of the Bruins' 33 games last season and had at least 10 rebounds in 22 of 33 games.
Holiday and Welsh have become the 119th and 120th overall draft selections, respectively, out of UCLA. This marked the fourth NBA Draft in the last five seasons in which UCLA had at least two student-athletes selected.
Looking ahead toward next season, UCLA's season ticket packages for the 2018-19 men's basketball campaign are now available. Place a $99 deposit to reserve the best seats in Pauley Pavilion. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu or click here for more information.
