On Spears: A 40-minute banger and bruiser ... an imposing presence on the block who can score and pass out of the post with accuracy ... displayed an improved mid-range jump shot and improved conditioning in the summer and fall. Norm Roberts on Spears: "Aaron brings a lot of strength and is a major physical presence for us. We felt that we definitely needed to have a physical presence inside and Aaron will fill that role nicely. He has the ability to score in the paint and also defend other big people in the BIG EAST." 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 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 communication arts. Spears Up Close...
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