Alabama has received a major boost to its roster with the addition of former North Dakota State star Grant Nelson, who committed to the Crimson Tide game via the transfer gate, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander confirms. Nelson was one of the best players available remaining in the transfer portal and It ranked 50th in the CBS Sports Transfer Portal Rankings list.
Alabama has been in an intense recruiting battle with Eric Musselman and Arkansas, with Nelson deciding between SEC programs after he canceled a visit to Baylor earlier this month. Nelson also received significant interest from Florida State and Iowa, among others.
Nelson is a polarizing prospect at 6-foot-11, and he will likely play a different role at Alabama this season than he did last season with the Bison. He’s a modern solid-handle forward who shot 29.4% on three-pointers last season. He averaged 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and shot 52.1% from the floor in 2022-23.
Nelson pulled his name from NBA Draft Consider the early back-to-school withdrawal deadline. When he declared for the 2023 NBA draft, he also entered the transfer gate, which gave him flexibility to attend a different school if he dropped out of the draft. Nelson likely would have gone undrafted or would have been a late second round pick had he stayed in the draft.
influence in Alabama
Nelson gives the Crimson Tide an instant boost. The roster as created looks more like the team that will start the season seeded. Last season, Alabama was the top seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished the season 31-6 before falling to San Diego State in the Sweet 16.
It’s no secret that Alabama has lost a large portion of its squad with Brandon Miller, Noah Clooney, and Charles Pediaco all declared for the 2023 NBA draft. Nelson will have the opportunity to enter immediately and secure a starting position at PF or center and help Alabama compete for the SEC title.
Nite Oatmeal does it again
Nelson isn’t the only big addition to the Crimson Tide roster this season via the transfer portal. Alabama has already secured commitments from Hofstra guard Aaron Estrada and CSU Fullerton guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. through the transport portal. Estrada is a two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, and Wrightshell earned All-Big West honors last season.
It’s a big boost for Alabama after guard Jahvon Quinerly, who was the SEC sixth man of the year co-op last season, decided to enter the transfer gate. Quinnerly started five games last season and would have been expected to get a bigger role had he stayed at Tuscaloosa for another season. The Crimson Tide was the #2 recruiting class in the SEC coming to campus this fall and received a commitment from four-star PF Jarin Stevenson last month. Stevenson announced that he would re-rank to join the Crimson Tide this season. With talent coming in, this could be considered his best season in the school.