Grant Nelson, NDSU basketball star, sees highlights go viral
FARGO, N.D. (BVM) 鈥� North Dakota State forward Grant Nelson is hard to miss on a basketball court, with his 6-foot-11 frame typically towering over even some of his fellow Division I opponents. Though he may be easy to spot on the hardwood, Nelson鈥檚 career has mostly gone under the radar thanks to playing in a smaller DI basketball conference.
However, the junior basketball standout has started to gain some attention on social media over the past week. Thanks to his flashy handles and big dunks as a 6-foot-11 player, highlights of Nelson鈥檚 game began making their rounds on Twitter. One such post had over 39,000 likes and 2.6 million views by the time of publication.
Aye hold on 馃槶
— Jules Winnfield馃暣馃従 (@hesjustniceee)
While Nelson may just now be garnering attention for his game, he has been an elite player long before his viral breakout.
Growing up in Devils Lake, North Dakota, Nelson was a standout for the Devils Lake High School Firebirds. During his junior year, the forward averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks, earning all-conference and second-team all-state honors. The next year, he took his game up another level, averaging 25 points, 18 rebounds and 5.7 blocks on his way to unanimous first-team all-state honors and being named the state鈥檚 Mr. Basketball.
Devils Lake standout Grant Nelson wins NDAPSSA Mr. Basketball Award |
— NDHSAA (@NDHSAA)
Once he arrived on campus at North Dakota State, it didn鈥檛 take long for Nelson to become a key player for the Bison. As a true freshman during the 2020-21 season, Nelson averaged 6.3 points while playing in all 27 games with five starts for the Bison. That year, he led NDSU with 25 blocked shots on his way to Summit League All-Newcomer team honors and the conference鈥檚 Sixth Man of the Year award.
Summit League Sixth Man of the Year …
Grant Nelson
— NDSU Men's Basketball (@NDSUmbb)
Last year, as a regular starter, Nelson averaged 11.6 points, good for third on the team, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists while leading the Bison with 38 blocks. He shot 51% from the field for the season and made 43% from 3-point range in league play. The sophomore played in 29 of 33 games, making 21 starts and missing four games due to injury.
This year has by far been Nelson鈥檚 best so far. Nelson has averaged 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 14 games, currently all career highs. He has also captured the Internet with a flurry of highlight reel dunks.
饾檼饾櫈饾櫓饾櫇 饾樇饾櫔饾櫓饾櫇饾櫎饾櫑饾櫈饾櫓饾櫘.
Welcome to the life, Grant Nelson.
— NDSU Men's Basketball (@NDSUmbb)
While Nelson may be a small name now, he has the potential to become a highly-sought after prospect in the near future. With NBA scouts falling in love with tall, rangy forwards with guard dribbling ability such as Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren and consensus first-overall prospect Victor Wembanyama, Nelson could see his name shoot up draft boards over the next couple of seasons, especially if he keeps his upward trajectory.
With much of the 2022-23 season remaining, Nelson will remain focused on helping his Bison achieve their goals. Currently riding a three-game conference win streak, NDSU will look to further use their rising star Nelson to continue their ascent in Summit League play.
Grant Nelson can just do some things that most members of the human species cannot.
— NDSU Men's Basketball (@NDSUmbb)
