Thomas Welsh UCLA Center Thomas Welsh was taken in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets with the 58th pick overall Thursday night. Welsh, the 7-foot center who started for most of three seasons, ended his UCLA career as the program's No. 3 all-time rebounder (1,035) and shot blocker (143). Through the 132 career games of his UCLA career, Welsh averaged 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, making 94 starts. His teammate, guard Aaron Holiday, was the No. 23 pick in the first round by the Indiana Pacers,<doc-sep>With the 58th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets selected Thomas Welsh, Center, UCLA Bruins. Our big man’s headed to Denver! Congratulations to Thomas Welsh, selected No. 58 by the @nuggets in the 2018 NBA Draft. 2018 NBA Draft Class presented by Muscle Milk. #NBADraft | #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/Qy2q7EaMUi — UCLA Basketball (@UCLAMBB) June 22, 2018 The UCLA big man is our final pick of the night. pic.twitter.com/A7DVigWrvH — Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 22, 2018 Thomas Welsh is a lunchpail kind of guy. In an era of one-and-dones, the 7-foot Welsh stuck around at UCLA for all four years. In the process, Thomas Welsh did something few players do these days at the college level — he developed into an NBA-caliber guy. He did it by working hard each and every day. As an added bonus, the Nuggets are getting a young man with good character. Welsh is a guy who always thanks his coaches after each practice and each game. I ran into him a few months ago on a parking structure elevator near Pauley Pavilion and he was as genuine in person as I had heard others say he was. How many college basketball players would say it was nice to meet you and really mean it? That’s what Tom said to me as I got into my car. That’s Thomas Welsh, the young man who has now finished his career at UCLA, and that’s who the Denver Nuggets picked tonight with the 58th selection of the NBA Draft. Something tells me that the Nuggets will be happy that they drafted him for a long time. Congratulations, Tom! Go Bruins!! !<doc-sep>The Denver Nuggets have indeed used the 58th pick to select their third and final player of the 2018 NBA Draft: Thomas Welsh, the seven footer out of UCLA. Exactly one week ago the Nuggets invited six players to workout ahead of the draft and Welsh, a floor spacing center, was among them. Welsh is a rare, four year senior. At 22-years old, the Los Angeles native will enter the NBA as an elder to a sizable group of players with their rookie seasons already under their belt. Over the course of his four year career, Welsh averaged 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game with the Bruins. The Nuggets selected two tall and long forwards with their first two picks and opted for real size with their final selection. Welsh projects as a potential floor spacer, although he didn’t begin shooting threes—literally—until his senior season, when he shot a surprising 40 percent from deep on 3.4 attempts per game. With two centers and a small army of forwards on the roster, it is unlikely that Welsh gets real burn anytime soon. In the modern NBA, a center must posses the ability to spread the floor, or else transcend that requirement with tremendous value on the defensive end. Welsh projects to check that first box and has earned himself a selection when some thought Denver would simply sell their final pick.<doc-sep>The Denver Nuggets used the 58th pick of the draft on Thomas Welsh, the seven foot center out of UCLA. You probably don’t know much about Thomas Welsh, but lucky for you the Denver Stiffs are no strangers to Wikipedia. Here are five things to know about the newest Nugget: 1. Thomas Welsh is the third leading rebounder in UCLA history Welsh recorded 1,035 total rebounds in his four year career at UCLA. That places him third on the program’s all-time list, trailing only basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. I bet you didn’t know that. I definitely did not know that. 2. Welsh was named as an honorable mention on the PAC-12 all-academic team in 2017-18 You don’t play four years at UCLA and get drafted into the association without some game, but Welsh brought it on and off the hardwood during his time with the Bruins. Welsh also earned a distinction for his work in the classroom, snagging an honorable mention on the all-academic team. Nerd. 3. Welsh has a brother that plays at Harvard Turns out nerdiness runs in the family. I’m not entirely sure if that’s a word, but I’m sure one of the Welsh’s knows. 4. Welsh won a gold medal with team USA at the U-19 FIBA basketball world cup in 2015 Welsh was one of 24 players to be invited to team USA’s training camp ahead of the 2015 U-19 FIBA basketball world cup. He ultimately made the roster and his team went on to win the entire tournament. This team was absolutely stacked by the way; Jalen Brunson, Harry Giles, Caleb Swanigan and Jayson Tatum were standing alongside Welsh when the gold medals were handed out. 5. Welsh recorded 18 double-doubles in his senior season, the most by a Bruin since Kevin Love . Welsh had his best statistical season of his career in his fourth and final year with the Bruins. The big man averaged a double-double over the course of the season putting up 12.6 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from deep. Welsh recorded 18 total double-doubles that year — the most in a single UCLA season since Kevin Love.<doc-sep>
UCLA Basketball in the NBA Draft: Aaron Holiday is headed to Indiana by Mike Regalado With the 58th overall pick (2nd round) in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets have selected UCLA basketball’s 7-foot center Thomas Welsh. For the last time, here is your #WELSHBOOM! That is right ladies and gentlemen, “The Immortal Irishman”, UCLA basketball‘s Thomas Welsh is heading to the NBA. RELATED: Aaron Holiday is heading to Indiana In a very surprising move, the Denver Nuggets have selected Welsh late in the 2nd round of the 2018 NBA Draft. Why is this a surprise? Because Welsh was not expected to be drafted. Among the many expert NBA mock drafts, the UCLA center was nowhere to be found amongst various projections, though we here at Go Joe Bruin could see his potential (as we have been covering hm for the last four years) and predicted him as a late 2nd round selection. Welsh has steadily grown into a solid shooting big man. In his four years at UCLA, he slowly developed his mid-to-long range shots. This past season, Welsh was a solid 3-point shooter, averaging .402 for the year, good for 12th best in the conference. But as a 7-footer, Welsh was able to make shots from all over the court as he averaged 12.3 points per game. Additionally, he grabbed 10.8 rebounds (2nd in the Pac-12). But that is not all. Though he averaged a double-double through the 2017-18 season, he was able to log 18 total game double-doubles, 11th best in the nation. Needless to say, Welsh will bring a lot to the Nuggets’ front court. He has the size, the skill and will soon have the professional development to turn him into a solid NBA center. Congratulations, Welsh. We are quite proud of you!