Overview
At Marietta High School in Georgia, where he only got serious about basketball as a sophomore, Izaiyah Nelson earned GHSA 7A-South All-State honors and posted 8.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as a senior. He committed to Arkansas State and spent three years growing under coach Bryan Hodgson, climbing to All-Sun Belt Third Team recognition as a junior with 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a night. When Hodgson took the South Florida job, Nelson followed him and made the jump count. As a senior he put up 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game on a 56.1%/14.3%/72.5% shooting line. He swept American Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, made the All-AAC First Team, and led USF to regular season and tournament titles plus the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.
Analysis
Nelson is a disruptive defensive playmaker everywhere on the court, with the lateral speed to switch onto smaller scorers and the length to wipe out shots from the weak side. His length and burst make him a menace on the offensive glass, where he chases down boards and turns them into putback dunks. He finishes with efficiency around the basket and sets hard screens. Nelson is more effective inside the arc right now, but the high release and clean free-throw stroke give him room to grow as a perimeter threat. He still has frame to fill out, and an NBA strength program will help.
Projection
Nelson projects as a high-energy big who wins on motor, rim protection and second-chance points. He rolls hard out of the pick-and-roll, catches lobs, protects the paint as a secondary deterrent and rebounds at a high level on both ends. Nelson has drawn NBA comparisons to players like Nerlens Noel, Larry Sanders and Paul Reed.
Career Highlights
- 2025-26 American Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
- Ranked 18th nationally in rebounding (9.6 rpg) and ninth in double-doubles (18) this past season.
- Led the American Conference in both rebounding and field goal percentage (56.1) in 2025-26.
- In 2025-26, helped South Florida tie its record with 25 wins and earn its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012.
- 2024-25 All-Sun Belt Third Team selection as a junior in the last of his three seasons at Arkansas State.
— Profile by RotoWire.com with additional info from the official NBA Draft Media Guide