#40
Senior • 1V
Forward
6-10 • 245
Chicago, Ill.
Highland C.C.
On Spears: A 40-minute banger and bruiser who
has increased strength and slimmed down in the offseason … an
imposing presence on the block who can score and pass out of the
post with accuracy … continues to improve his mid-range jump shot
and conditioning … made a major impact after only one season with
the Red Storm, starting 25 games in the post.
Norm Roberts on Spears: “Aaron Spears has done
a great job of improving his body and keeping his weight down. He
has become more explosive and has increased his range on his
face-up game, shooting the basketball. I think Aaron is primed to
do some very good things for us inside. He gives us the inside
physical presence that we need to compete in this league.”
As a Junior in 2005-06: Appeared in 26 games,
drawing 25 starts in his first season at St. John’s … finished
fifth on the team in scoring with 7.2 points per game … led the
squad with a .567 field goal percentage overall … averaged 8.0
points and shot 56.3 percent in 15 BIG EAST games … scored nine
points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting, dished out one assist and
blocked a career-high three shots in 26 minutes in St. John’s home
victory over Seton Hall (Feb. 21) … netted 10 points on 4-of-7
shooting, tied a career-high with eight rebounds and blocked two
shots in the Red Storm’s road win at Rutgers (Feb. 15) … tied a
career-high with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 29 minutes against
Syracuse (Feb. 12) … contributed 10 points on the road at
Providence (Feb. 4) … made 3-of-4 shots and 4-of-4 free throws in
scoring 10 points against No. 17/15 Louisville (Jan. 17) ... scored
eight of his 10 points in the second half, blocked two shots and
recorded one steal against the Cardinals … was 6-of-8 from the
floor in scoring 14 points at home against Georgetown (Jan. 8) ...
originally notched career-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds in
35 minutes of action at Seton Hall (Jan. 4) … scored eight points
on 4-of-7 shooting, including the game-winning basket with :32.5
remaining in a Panasonic Holiday Festival win over UMass
(Dec. 28) ... also blocked two shots in the game against the
Minutemen … had his coming-out party against Duke at Cameron Indoor
Stadium (Dec. 21), establishing new career-bests with 14 points and
six rebounds in 25 minutes ... against the Blue Devils, scored 12
of the team’s 30 first-half points and grabbed four of his six
rebounds on the offensive glass … contributed seven points in games
against Hofstra (Nov. 29) and Charleston Southern (Dec. 3) …
registered five points, grabbed four rebounds and recorded two
steals in his Red Storm debut against UMES (Nov. 19) … recipient of
the Peter Hassett Memorial Award at the St. John’s annual athletics
banquet, recognizing his “spirit and sportsmanship.”
At Highland C.C.: A one-year standout at center
for Highland Community College in 2004-05, helping the Cougars to a
35-3 record and a No. 5 National Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA) ranking … averaged 10.0 points per game and
10.0 rebounds en route to Slam Magazine JUCO All-America honors …
also earned All-Arrowhead Conference accolades and was named to the
NJCAA Region IV All-Tournament team after leading the Cougars to
the Arrowhead and Region IV championship … JUCO coach was Pete
Norman.
At Illinois: Was enrolled for two years at
Illinois … a medical redshirt his first season … recruited for the
Illini by Norm Roberts.
At Dunbar High School: A four-year letterwinner
and all-star performer at Chicago’s Dunbar High School … helped
Dunbar to a cumulative 112-21 record and four Red Central
Conference championships … averaged 28.0 ppg and 13.0 rebounds as a
senior in 2001-02, earning honorable mention All-America honors
from Parade Magazine and The Sporting News … tabbed all-state and
all-city by the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune as a senior …
earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior as well …
high school coach was Fate Mickel.
Personal: Aaron D. Spears … born Feb. 2, 1984
in Chicago … son of Bonnie Spears and Dan Davis … Davis played at
Northwestern from 1967-69, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors in
1968 and leading the Wildcats in free-throw shooting in 1969 (.882)
… Davis later coached at Crane High School, which he guided to the
1972 state finals, and at Malcolm X Junior College … Spears’
gradmother, Dorothy Dawson, was a scholarship basketball player at
Grambling … active in the local Boys and Girls Club growing up … a
lifelong Bulls fan that lists Chicago’s first NBA Championship
among his favorite moment in sports … majoring in
communications.
Spears Up Close…
Nickname: “Big A.”
Hero/Role model: My mom.
Favorite book: Green Eggs & Ham.
Since coming to St. John’s I’ve learned: A lot
about teamwork.
The St. John’s basketball player that will surprise you
this year is: Derwin Kitchen.