Aptos High senior 6-foot-8 basketball star Cole Welle worked out with UC Santa Barbara today, and is now weighing his options, Welle said.
The two sport-athlete -- he also is a volleyball star -- spent some time with the Cal basketball team recently, as well.
However, there is a strong Santa Cruz tie-in with UCSB, where Welle has already been asked to join the volleyball team.
The Division-I Gauchos have for 16 years been coached by Aptos High grad and former Cabrillo College mentor Bob Williams, the school's all-time winningest men's basketball coach at 269-210. Also, nudging Welle toward UCSB and Williams has been Pete Newell Jr., the former longtime Santa Cruz High coach, who coached at Mitty and Serra before his 30-year enure at Santa Cruz which began in 1974-75.
Newell led Santa Cruz High to a state title in 2005, his final year on the Cardinal bench.
"My dad -- Tom Welle -- has done multiple surgeries on Pete," said Cole, who will also be pre-med at either UCSB or Cal. "I also know him from just being in the basketball community."
Newell, though he now lives in Las Vegas, is iconic in Santa Cruz basketball circles and of course beyond. The namesake of the legendary former Cal and U.S. Olympic coach coached some great athletes at Santa Cruz High in basketball, such as Johnny Johnson and Glenallen Hill who played professionally in football and baseball, respectively.
Despite winning at least a share of 14 league titles in 18 years leading up to 2005, Santa Cruz had never won a section basketball title until that season when it not only took section, but defeated St. Augustine 67-56 in Sacramento for the CIF-State Division III championship. Standouts Junior Russell, Jesse LoBue and 6-foot-8 Cliff Sammet led the Cards (36-1) in the finale.
As for Welle, he was upbeat about his effort today in Santa Barbara.
"I played better than I ever have in my life," he said.
Welle was perhaps the top athlete in the Central Coast Section as a senior, averaging 22 points and more than 12 rebounds in for a 22-6 Aptos basketball team and starring as a right-side hitter for the Mariner volleyball team.
The graduating senior with the 4.0 GPA (4.378 weighted) said he will probably make his college decision later this week.
Asked if he spoke to Williams, Welle said: "I did, a little bit before and after (the workout). I got a good feel for their team and it was a good experience."
