[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Grant Nelson
Frame: 6’11” 230 lbs
Position: Forward
Team: Alabama Crimson Tide
2024 Draft Age: 22
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com and www.battorvik.com

Offense

Nelson is a versatile big/dribble-handoff hub that can roll, pop off a screen, grab and go, and finish in transition. He uses his size, athleticism, and fluid handle for his size to attack slow-footed big men off the dribble and to attack mismatches. Nelson has nifty footwork in the paint and can get to his post-game from anywhere on the court. He likes to dribble into the paint with various spin moves and pivots and patiently establishes positioning for a series of jump hooks and finishes. Nelson is an efficient rim finisher at 70.4 percent (64 percent on two-point attempts), which has increased every year of his career, and he has a true shooting percentage of 61.2, per www.battorvik.com.

Nelson’s three-point shooting numbers are underwhelming as he’s been a sub 30 percent the past two years, currently at 28 percent on 93 attempts. Still, his confidence doesn’t seem to waver, as he takes 3.2 attempts per game. He still generates respect from beyond the arc and has made some threes in big-time moments this year, which lets him attack closeouts with his quick, straight-line speed. Nelson has an unorthodox form on his jump shot, bringing the ball up from his waist and flaring his elbow out a bit. His free-throw shooting (83 percent, up 11 points from last year at North Dakota State) provides some optimism that his jumper will improve.

After transferring to a better conference in the SEC and sharing the court with one of the best collegiate point guards, Mark Sears, Nelson’s scoring is down from 17.9 to 11.9 (as is his usage from 30.4 to 19.8 percent). Even though he is not running the show in Alabama as much as he did in North Dakota State, Nelson remains an efficient player who knows what areas he’s effective at and still impacts the game as an off-ball player who can score and create when the ball comes to him.

Nelson is a capable playmaker who flows into dribble handoffs and pick-and-rolls as the screener or creator, where he can see over defenses and whip out passes from the post or out of double teams. He needs to work on creating more contact on his screens and being able to seal more effectively. Nelson is very right-hand dominant and always wants to get to it. Even when he drives left, he often finishes with his right at awkward angles. He is a good connector and is patient in letting the play develop, but sometimes, he will settle for tough inside shots when he can kick out for an easier shot or reset.

Defense

Nelson is a solid rim protector who uses his 7’0″ wingspan and athleticism to block and alter shots at the rim. He is averaging 1.5 blocks with a 6.0 block percentage, 0.6 steals and a 1.3 steal percentage. Nelson holds his ground in the paint and physically fights for positioning in the post. He’s also an adequate weakside rim protector who doesn’t give up on plays when he or his teammate gets beat. Nelson sometimes gets into foul trouble and commits unnecessary fouls—fouling out of five of the 16 conference games this year. 

Nelson sometimes struggles to switch onto guards, whether it’s them beating him off the dribble or giving them too much space to shoot. He needs to improve his screen navigation and off-ball defense, where he loses his man when there is a scramble switch and can be late to close out on a shooter. His rebounding is down this year from 9.3 to 5.5, but so are his minutes, and Nelson is playing with a traditional five next to him. The effort is there. He just needs to be more focused off the ball and on switches. Ideally, you will want him defending in drop coverage and near the basket to take advantage of his rim presence.

Looking Ahead

Nelson declared for the draft last but returned for his senior year to improve his game for a more talented team in a stiffer conference. Although his numbers are down from last year, he has assimilated into his role and remained effective while contributing to one of the top teams with one of the best offenses in the country. He projects as a second-rounder and can improve his stock if he has a big tournament. 

He should be able to provide energy and rim protection off the bench at the next level. Nelson will thrive with more space in the NBA and be better equipped to grab and go, attack closeouts, and mismatches where he can have more room to post up. His swing skills will be his three-point shooting and his ability to switch out and guard on the perimeter.