Nelson has unquestioned NBA athleticism, who serves as a game-wrecker in all the best ways, but still has some questions to answer on the skill front. The former Arkansas State product stayed with the program through a coaching change before flourishing under Bryan Hodgson. He followed Hodgson from Arkansas State to South Florida for his senior season and was the best two-way player in the league by a wide margin.
About
2025-26 American Conference Player of the Year.
2025-26 American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
2024-25 All-Sun Belt Third Team
Strengths
Elite mover. Nelson just explodes off the tape with violent athleticism and breakaway speed. Smashed 89 dunks thanks to his 38.5-inch vertical and a wingspan north of 7-2. Projects to be a dangerous transition threat who can put anybody on a poster.
Voracious offensive rebounder who can corral boards outside of his area and will play with great energy and motor. He notched an elite offensive rebound rate that landed in the top-60 nationally in each of his final three seasons, per KenPom.
Offers serious defensive potential with his length, athleticism and ferocity at the core of the evaluation. Can absolutely guard on the perimeter right now.
Weaknesses
Nelson does not quite have the physical size required to guard 5s at the next level for long stretches.
Nelson is not super comfortable playing on the perimeter. The shot has not improved much over the years. Nelson shot just 15% from downtown on 81 attempts throughout his college tenure, and Nelson is not a natural fluid driver which limits his utility in the dribble-handoff game.
The feel for the game isn’t at the NBA level, yet. He is a NBA athlete, but can he make quick decisions and get the ball where it needs to go? South Florida didn’t trust him as a playmaker.
1:02
1:40
1:52
7:07
7:18
0:50
1:23
1:55
41:12
1:39
1:07
