UCI’s Nelson gains praise

Luke Nelson, a 6-3 guard who signed a national letter of intent with the UC Irvine men’s basketball program in November, has been named Player of the Year for the top division in England.

He also was recently named England Basketball U18 Player of the Year for the third consecutive season in his respective age group.

Nelson averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists to help lead the English U-18 team to promotion to Division A last summer and earned all-tournament honors. As a member of the U-16 team in 2011, he averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in helping that English team to a promotion to Division A.

At 17, he is the youngest ever to be named Player of the Year in Division 1. He played for the Reading Rockets, whom he has led to the Final Four this weekend.

He will also represent England this summer at the European Championship for U18 Men (Division A).

— From staff reports