Eastern Illinois University announced on May 1 that men’s basketball coach Marty Simmons has added forward Gavin Welch from Lake Erie College to the Panthers roster for the upcoming season.
The addition of Welch brings more experience and shooting ability to the team as it prepares for next season. The move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the squad through both transfers and new recruits.
Welch, who stands at 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 195 pounds, played in all 32 games last season for Lake Erie College, a team that reached the NCAA Division II Tournament with a total of 23 wins. He made an impact by hitting 78 three-pointers at a rate of over forty percent. Welch averaged eleven points and nearly three rebounds per game, with five games in which he made six or more three-point shots.
“Gavin is very intelligent and has a high basketball IQ,” said Simmons. “He’s the kind of player who makes everyone else around him better and we believe he will play a key role in elevating Eastern Illinois basketball. He’s a tough, smart, elite shooting forward who will bring great toughness and character to our locker room. He has a great understanding for the game and ability to compete at a high level. We expect him to make an immediate impact to our team and basketball culture both on and off the floor.”
Welch comes from New Castle, Indiana where he was recognized as an honorable mention All-State selection during his time at New Castle High School. Before joining Lake Erie College, he spent two years playing at Barry University where he appeared in fifty-five games over two seasons and helped his team reach their conference tournament championship game as a freshman.
Welch joins several other new additions on Eastern Illinois’s roster including Jayden Wright from Benet Academy along with Jalen Miller (East Central Oklahoma), Demar Burton (Tiffin University), Devin Davenport (Missouri Valley College), Daniel Ntambwe (Coffeyville Community College), and Jalen Calloway (Vincennes University). The recruitment reflects continued changes aimed at improving performance for next season.
