Spencer Nelson

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Spencer Nelson

| image =

| image_size =

| position =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lbs = 225

| league =

| team =

| number =

| nationality = American / Azerbaijani

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|7|11}}

| birth_place = Pocatello, Idaho

| high_school = Pocatello (Pocatello, Idaho)

| college = {{nowrap|Utah State (1998–1999, 2002–2005)}}

| draft_year = 2005

| career_start = 2005

| career_end = 2015

| career_number =

| career_position = Small forward / power forward

| coach_start = 2016

| coach_end =

| years1 = 2005–2006

| team1 = GHP Bamberg

| years2 = 2006–2007

| team2 = Benetton Treviso

| years3 = 2007–2008

| team3 = Fortitudo Bologna

| years4 = 2008–2009

| team4 = Aris Thessaloniki

| years5 = 2009–2010

| team5 = Peristeri

| years6 = 2010–2013

| team6 = Gran Canaria

| years7 = 2013–2014

| team7 = Montepaschi Siena

| years8 = 2014–2015

| team8 = Reyer Venezia Mestre

| cyears1 = 2016–2018

| cteam1 = Utah State (assistant)

| highlights =

As player:

Italian Cup MVP (2007)
Italian Cup winner (2007)
2× Italian Supercup winner (2006, 2013)

}}

Spencer Howells Nelson ({{langx|az|Spenser Hauels Nelson}}, born July 11, 1980) is an American-born Azerbaijani[http://www.basketbolhaber.com/milli-takimlar/diger-haberler/azerbaycan-eleme-maclarina-hazir.html Azerbaijan is ready for qualify round][http://salsabasket.blogspot.com/2010/08/4-yeni-azeri-spencer-rindin-davis-rasim.html Four new Azerbaijani nationals] naturalized former professional basketball player. At 6'8", he played at both small forward and power forward, although he was mainly considered a power forward.

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. Spencer had a notoriously loud and raucous group of fans in high school he named "The Sixth Man" which provided a home court advantage even on away games. Spencer's 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 | work=Deseret News}}

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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801051904/http://217.13.116.51/stats/statsPartido.jsp?temporada=E05&jornada=8&partido=88 |date=2008-08-01 }}

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.

On 26 January 2010 he stated that GHP Bamberg (Germany) was his favourite professional club he played for. He also told a local radio station to send greetings to the fans of his former club.

In July 2010 he signed a contract with CB Gran Canaria in the Spanish ACB, where he played with former Utah State teammate Jaycee Carroll during the season 2010/11.[http://thehoopsmarket.blogspot.com/2010/07/gran-canaria-2014-and-spencer-nelson.html Gran Canaria 2014 and Spencer Nelson reach to a one-year agreement.]

In September 2013, he signed with the Italian club Montepaschi Siena for the 2013–14 season.[http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/105658/mens-sana-siena-agreed-to-terms-with-spencer-nelson.html Mens Sana Siena agreed to terms with Spencer Nelson]

On November 13, 2014, he signed with Reyer Venezia Mestre for the 2014–15 season.[http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/140959/reyer-venezia-announces-spencer-nelson.html Reyer Venezia announces Spencer Nelson]

On July 14, 2015, Nelson announced his retirement from professional basketball.{{cite news|title=Spencer Nelson retires at 35|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/168737/spencer-nelson-retires-at-35.html|accessdate=14 July 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=14 July 2015}}

Nelson returned to Utah State as an assistant coach on August 23, 2016.{{cite news|title=USU basketball: Hall of Famer Spencer Nelson named men's basketball assistant coach|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865660830/USU-basketball-Hall-of-Famer-Spencer-Nelson-named-men7s-basketball-assistant-coach.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202913/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865660830/USU-basketball-Hall-of-Famer-Spencer-Nelson-named-men7s-basketball-assistant-coach.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2017|newspaper=Deseret News|location=Salt Lake City|first=Kyle|last=Cottam|date=August 23, 2016|accessdate=October 15, 2017}}

Personal life

After he retired from playing basketball, Nelson worked at Cicero Group in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he ran the company's private equity group. 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 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225030/http://media.www.utahstatesman.com/media/storage/paper243/news/2006/09/01/WeddingNews/Julie.ClaytonSpencer.Nelson-2238861.shtml | archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}

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}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20150809060731/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6034145/playerview.html FIBA.com profile]
[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/?clubcode=ari&pcode=KXL Eurocup player profile]
[http://utahstateaggies.cstv.com/library/ust-all_century.html Utah State University All-Century Team]

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Mormon missionaries

Category:American emigrants to Azerbaijan

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:American Latter Day Saints

Category:American Mormon missionaries in the United States

Category:Aris B.C. players

Category:Azerbaijani Latter Day Saints