5/4/2023 basketball Edit

Iowa Joins Long List of Programs Interested in Transfer Grant Nelson

North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson is one of the hottest names in the transfer portal -- Iowa is among those interested. (Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports)

Eliot Clough • Go Iowa Awesome

Recruiting Analyst

A former Northern Iowa basketball and football Insider for Townsquare Media, Eliot joins the team as Go Iowa Awesome's new recruiting analyst. He brings experience and know-how for recruit evaluation.

In mid-April, North Dakota State men's basketball standout Grant Nelson declared for the NBA Draft. A short two weeks later, he shared his intention to enter the transfer portal, too. Per 24/7 High School Hoops on Twitter, Nelson has heard from the Iowa basketball program out of the portal.

Content Loading

Embed content not available
Manage privacy settings

PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv Y2stLWluc3RhZ3JhbSc+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J2NlbnRlcl9pbnN0YWdyYW0n PjxibG9ja3F1b3RlIGNsYXNzPSJpbnN0YWdyYW0tbWVkaWEiIGRhdGEtaW5z dGdybS1jYXB0aW9uZWQgZGF0YS1pbnN0Z3JtLXBlcm1hbGluaz0iaHR0cHM6 Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9wL0NyTHNPb2tMdUw0Lz91dG1fc291cmNl PWlnX2VtYmVkJmFtcDt1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bG9hZGluZyIgZGF0YS1pbnN0 Z3JtLXZlcnNpb249IjE0IiBzdHlsZT0iIGJhY2tncm91bmQ6I0ZGRjsgYm9y ZGVyOjA7IGJvcmRlci1yYWRpdXM6M3B4OyBib3gtc2hhZG93OjAgMCAxcHgg MCByZ2JhKDAsMCwwLDAuNSksMCAxcHggMTBweCAwIHJnYmEoMCwwLDAsMC4x NSk7IG1hcmdpbjogMXB4OyBtYXgtd2lkdGg6NjU4cHg7IG1pbi13aWR0aDoz MjZweDsgcGFkZGluZzowOyB3aWR0aDo5OS4zNzUlOyB3aWR0aDotd2Via2l0 LWNhbGMoMTAwJSAtIDJweCk7IHdpZHRoOmNhbGMoMTAwJSAtIDJweCk7Ij48 ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSJwYWRkaW5nOjE2cHg7Ij4gPGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cHM6Ly93 d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9wL0NyTHNPb2tMdUw0Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPWln X2VtYmVkJmFtcDt1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bG9hZGluZyIgc3R5bGU9IiBiYWNr Z3JvdW5kOiNGRkZGRkY7IGxpbmUtaGVpZ2h0OjA7IHBhZGRpbmc6MCAwOyB0 ZXh0LWFsaWduOmNlbnRlcjsgdGV4dC1kZWNvcmF0aW9uOm5vbmU7IHdpZHRo OjEwMCU7IiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayI+IDxkaXYgc3R5bGU9IiBkaXNwbGF5 OiBmbGV4OyBmbGV4LWRpcmVjdGlvbjogcm93OyBhbGlnbi1pdGVtczogY2Vu dGVyOyI+IDxkaXYgc3R5bGU9ImJhY2tncm91bmQtY29sb3I6ICNGNEY0RjQ7 IGJvcmRlci1yYWRpdXM6IDUwJTsgZmxleC1ncm93OiAwOyBoZWlnaHQ6IDQw cHg7IG1hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogMTRweDsgd2lkdGg6IDQwcHg7Ij48L2Rpdj4g PGRpdiBzdHlsZT0iZGlzcGxheTogZmxleDsgZmxleC1kaXJlY3Rpb246IGNv bHVtbjsgZmxleC1ncm93OiAxOyBqdXN0aWZ5LWNvbnRlbnQ6IGNlbnRlcjsi PiA8ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSIgYmFja2dyb3VuZC1jb2xvcjogI0Y0RjRGNDsgYm9y ZGVyLXJhZGl1czogNHB4OyBmbGV4LWdyb3c6IDA7IGhlaWdodDogMTRweDsg bWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbTogNnB4OyB3aWR0aDogMTAwcHg7Ij48L2Rpdj4gPGRp diBzdHlsZT0iIGJhY2tncm91bmQtY29sb3I6ICNGNEY0RjQ7IGJvcmRlci1y YWRpdXM6IDRweDsgZmxleC1ncm93OiAwOyBoZWlnaHQ6IDE0cHg7IHdpZHRo OiA2MHB4OyI+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PGRpdiBzdHlsZT0icGFkZGlu ZzogMTklIDA7Ij48L2Rpdj4gPGRpdiBzdHlsZT0iZGlzcGxheTpibG9jazsg aGVpZ2h0OjUwcHg7IG1hcmdpbjowIGF1dG8gMTJweDsgd2lkdGg6NTBweDsi Pjxzdmcgd2lkdGg9IjUwcHgiIGhlaWdodD0iNTBweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAw IDYwIDYwIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy53My5v cmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy53My5vcmcv MTk5OS94bGluayI+PGcgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEi IGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+PGcgdHJhbnNmb3Jt PSJ0cmFuc2xhdGUoLTUxMS4wMDAwMDAsIC0yMC4wMDAwMDApIiBmaWxsPSIj MDAwMDAwIj48Zz48cGF0aCBkPSJNNTU2Ljg2OSwzMC40MSBDNTU0LjgxNCwz MC40MSA1NTMuMTQ4LDMyLjA3NiA1NTMuMTQ4LDM0LjEzMSBDNTUzLjE0OCwz Ni4xODYgNTU0LjgxNCwzNy44NTIgNTU2Ljg2OSwzNy44NTIgQzU1OC45MjQs MzcuODUyIDU2MC41OSwzNi4xODYgNTYwLjU5LDM0LjEzMSBDNTYwLjU5LDMy LjA3NiA1NTguOTI0LDMwLjQxIDU1Ni44NjksMzAuNDEgTTU0MSw2MC42NTcg QzUzNS4xMTQsNjAuNjU3IDUzMC4zNDIsNTUuODg3IDUzMC4zNDIsNTAgQzUz MC4zNDIsNDQuMTE0IDUzNS4xMTQsMzkuMzQyIDU0MSwzOS4zNDIgQzU0Ni44 ODcsMzkuMzQyIDU1MS42NTgsNDQuMTE0IDU1MS42NTgsNTAgQzU1MS42NTgs NTUuODg3IDU0Ni44ODcsNjAuNjU3IDU0MSw2MC42NTcgTTU0MSwzMy44ODYg QzUzMi4xLDMzLjg4NiA1MjQuODg2LDQxLjEgNTI0Ljg4Niw1MCBDNTI0Ljg4 Niw1OC44OTkgNTMyLjEsNjYuMTEzIDU0MSw2Ni4xMTMgQzU0OS45LDY2LjEx MyA1NTcuMTE1LDU4Ljg5OSA1NTcuMTE1LDUwIEM1NTcuMTE1LDQxLjEgNTQ5 LjksMzMuODg2IDU0MSwzMy44ODYgTTU2NS4zNzgsNjIuMTAxIEM1NjUuMjQ0 LDY1LjAyMiA1NjQuNzU2LDY2LjYwNiA1NjQuMzQ2LDY3LjY2MyBDNTYzLjgw Myw2OS4wNiA1NjMuMTU0LDcwLjA1NyA1NjIuMTA2LDcxLjEwNiBDNTYxLjA1 OCw3Mi4xNTUgNTYwLjA2LDcyLjgwMyA1NTguNjYyLDczLjM0NyBDNTU3LjYw Nyw3My43NTcgNTU2LjAyMSw3NC4yNDQgNTUzLjEwMiw3NC4zNzggQzU0OS45 NDQsNzQuNTIxIDU0OC45OTcsNzQuNTUyIDU0MSw3NC41NTIgQzUzMy4wMDMs NzQuNTUyIDUzMi4wNTYsNzQuNTIxIDUyOC44OTgsNzQuMzc4IEM1MjUuOTc5 LDc0LjI0NCA1MjQuMzkzLDczLjc1NyA1MjMuMzM4LDczLjM0NyBDNTIxLjk0 LDcyLjgwMyA1MjAuOTQyLDcyLjE1NSA1MTkuODk0LDcxLjEwNiBDNTE4Ljg0 Niw3MC4wNTcgNTE4LjE5Nyw2OS4wNiA1MTcuNjU0LDY3LjY2MyBDNTE3LjI0 NCw2Ni42MDYgNTE2Ljc1NSw2NS4wMjIgNTE2LjYyMyw2Mi4xMDEgQzUxNi40 NzksNTguOTQzIDUxNi40NDgsNTcuOTk2IDUxNi40NDgsNTAgQzUxNi40NDgs NDIuMDAzIDUxNi40NzksNDEuMDU2IDUxNi42MjMsMzcuODk5IEM1MTYuNzU1 LDM0Ljk3OCA1MTcuMjQ0LDMzLjM5MSA1MTcuNjU0LDMyLjMzOCBDNTE4LjE5 NywzMC45MzggNTE4Ljg0NiwyOS45NDIgNTE5Ljg5NCwyOC44OTQgQzUyMC45 NDIsMjcuODQ2IDUyMS45NCwyNy4xOTYgNTIzLjMzOCwyNi42NTQgQzUyNC4z OTMsMjYuMjQ0IDUyNS45NzksMjUuNzU2IDUyOC44OTgsMjUuNjIzIEM1MzIu MDU3LDI1LjQ3OSA1MzMuMDA0LDI1LjQ0OCA1NDEsMjUuNDQ4IEM1NDguOTk3 LDI1LjQ0OCA1NDkuOTQzLDI1LjQ3OSA1NTMuMTAyLDI1LjYyMyBDNTU2LjAy MSwyNS43NTYgNTU3LjYwNywyNi4yNDQgNTU4LjY2MiwyNi42NTQgQzU2MC4w NiwyNy4xOTYgNTYxLjA1OCwyNy44NDYgNTYyLjEwNiwyOC44OTQgQzU2My4x NTQsMjkuOTQyIDU2My44MDMsMzAuOTM4IDU2NC4zNDYsMzIuMzM4IEM1NjQu NzU2LDMzLjM5MSA1NjUuMjQ0LDM0Ljk3OCA1NjUuMzc4LDM3Ljg5OSBDNTY1 LjUyMiw0MS4wNTYgNTY1LjU1Miw0Mi4wMDMgNTY1LjU1Miw1MCBDNTY1LjU1 Miw1Ny45OTYgNTY1LjUyMiw1OC45NDMgNTY1LjM3OCw2Mi4xMDEgTTU3MC44 MiwzNy42MzEgQzU3MC42NzQsMzQuNDM4IDU3MC4xNjcsMzIuMjU4IDU2OS40 MjUsMzAuMzQ5IEM1NjguNjU5LDI4LjM3NyA1NjcuNjMzLDI2LjcwMiA1NjUu OTY1LDI1LjAzNSBDNTY0LjI5NywyMy4zNjggNTYyLjYyMywyMi4zNDIgNTYw LjY1MiwyMS41NzUgQzU1OC43NDMsMjAuODM0IDU1Ni41NjIsMjAuMzI2IDU1 My4zNjksMjAuMTggQzU1MC4xNjksMjAuMDMzIDU0OS4xNDgsMjAgNTQxLDIw IEM1MzIuODUzLDIwIDUzMS44MzEsMjAuMDMzIDUyOC42MzEsMjAuMTggQzUy NS40MzgsMjAuMzI2IDUyMy4yNTcsMjAuODM0IDUyMS4zNDksMjEuNTc1IEM1 MTkuMzc2LDIyLjM0MiA1MTcuNzAzLDIzLjM2OCA1MTYuMDM1LDI1LjAzNSBD NTE0LjM2OCwyNi43MDIgNTEzLjM0MiwyOC4zNzcgNTEyLjU3NCwzMC4zNDkg QzUxMS44MzQsMzIuMjU4IDUxMS4zMjYsMzQuNDM4IDUxMS4xODEsMzcuNjMx IEM1MTEuMDM1LDQwLjgzMSA1MTEsNDEuODUxIDUxMSw1MCBDNTExLDU4LjE0 NyA1MTEuMDM1LDU5LjE3IDUxMS4xODEsNjIuMzY5IEM1MTEuMzI2LDY1LjU2 MiA1MTEuODM0LDY3Ljc0MyA1MTIuNTc0LDY5LjY1MSBDNTEzLjM0Miw3MS42 MjUgNTE0LjM2OCw3My4yOTYgNTE2LjAzNSw3NC45NjUgQzUxNy43MDMsNzYu NjM0IDUxOS4zNzYsNzcuNjU4IDUyMS4zNDksNzguNDI1IEM1MjMuMjU3LDc5 LjE2NyA1MjUuNDM4LDc5LjY3MyA1MjguNjMxLDc5LjgyIEM1MzEuODMxLDc5 Ljk2NSA1MzIuODUzLDgwLjAwMSA1NDEsODAuMDAxIEM1NDkuMTQ4LDgwLjAw MSA1NTAuMTY5LDc5Ljk2NSA1NTMuMzY5LDc5LjgyIEM1NTYuNTYyLDc5LjY3 MyA1NTguNzQzLDc5LjE2NyA1NjAuNjUyLDc4LjQyNSBDNTYyLjYyMyw3Ny42 NTggNTY0LjI5Nyw3Ni42MzQgNTY1Ljk2NSw3NC45NjUgQzU2Ny42MzMsNzMu Mjk2IDU2OC42NTksNzEuNjI1IDU2OS40MjUsNjkuNjUxIEM1NzAuMTY3LDY3 Ljc0MyA1NzAuNjc0LDY1LjU2MiA1NzAuODIsNjIuMzY5IEM1NzAuOTY2LDU5 LjE3IDU3MSw1OC4xNDcgNTcxLDUwIEM1NzEsNDEuODUxIDU3MC45NjYsNDAu ODMxIDU3MC44MiwzNy42MzEiPjwvcGF0aD48L2c+PC9nPjwvZz48L3N2Zz48 L2Rpdj48ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSJwYWRkaW5nLXRvcDogOHB4OyI+IDxkaXYgc3R5 bGU9IiBjb2xvcjojMzg5N2YwOyBmb250LWZhbWlseTpBcmlhbCxzYW5zLXNl cmlmOyBmb250LXNpemU6MTRweDsgZm9udC1zdHlsZTpub3JtYWw7IGZvbnQt d2VpZ2h0OjU1MDsgbGluZS1oZWlnaHQ6MThweDsiPlZpZXcgdGhpcyBwb3N0 IG9uIEluc3RhZ3JhbTwvZGl2PjwvZGl2PjxkaXYgc3R5bGU9InBhZGRpbmc6 IDEyLjUlIDA7Ij48L2Rpdj4gPGRpdiBzdHlsZT0iZGlzcGxheTogZmxleDsg ZmxleC1kaXJlY3Rpb246IHJvdzsgbWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbTogMTRweDsgYWxp Z24taXRlbXM6IGNlbnRlcjsiPjxkaXY+IDxkaXYgc3R5bGU9ImJhY2tncm91 bmQtY29sb3I6ICNGNEY0RjQ7IGJvcmRlci1yYWRpdXM6IDUwJTsgaGVpZ2h0 OiAxMi41cHg7IHdpZHRoOiAxMi41cHg7IHRyYW5zZm9ybTogdHJhbnNsYXRl WCgwcHgpIHRyYW5zbGF0ZVkoN3B4KTsiPjwvZGl2PiA8ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSJi YWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNvbG9yOiAjRjRGNEY0OyBoZWlnaHQ6IDEyLjVweDsgdHJh bnNmb3JtOiByb3RhdGUoLTQ1ZGVnKSB0cmFuc2xhdGVYKDNweCkgdHJhbnNs YXRlWSgxcHgpOyB3aWR0aDogMTIuNXB4OyBmbGV4LWdyb3c6IDA7IG1hcmdp bi1yaWdodDogMTRweDsgbWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IDJweDsiPjwvZGl2PiA8ZGl2 IHN0eWxlPSJiYWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNvbG9yOiAjRjRGNEY0OyBib3JkZXItcmFk aXVzOiA1MCU7IGhlaWdodDogMTIuNXB4OyB3aWR0aDogMTIuNXB4OyB0cmFu c2Zvcm06IHRyYW5zbGF0ZVgoOXB4KSB0cmFuc2xhdGVZKC0xOHB4KTsiPjwv ZGl2PjwvZGl2PjxkaXYgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiA4cHg7Ij4gPGRp diBzdHlsZT0iIGJhY2tncm91bmQtY29sb3I6ICNGNEY0RjQ7IGJvcmRlci1y YWRpdXM6IDUwJTsgZmxleC1ncm93OiAwOyBoZWlnaHQ6IDIwcHg7IHdpZHRo OiAyMHB4OyI+PC9kaXY+IDxkaXYgc3R5bGU9IiB3aWR0aDogMDsgaGVpZ2h0 OiAwOyBib3JkZXItdG9wOiAycHggc29saWQgdHJhbnNwYXJlbnQ7IGJvcmRl ci1sZWZ0OiA2cHggc29saWQgI2Y0ZjRmNDsgYm9yZGVyLWJvdHRvbTogMnB4 IHNvbGlkIHRyYW5zcGFyZW50OyB0cmFuc2Zvcm06IHRyYW5zbGF0ZVgoMTZw eCkgdHJhbnNsYXRlWSgtNHB4KSByb3RhdGUoMzBkZWcpIj48L2Rpdj48L2Rp dj48ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSJtYXJnaW4tbGVmdDogYXV0bzsiPiA8ZGl2IHN0eWxl PSIgd2lkdGg6IDBweDsgYm9yZGVyLXRvcDogOHB4IHNvbGlkICNGNEY0RjQ7 IGJvcmRlci1yaWdodDogOHB4IHNvbGlkIHRyYW5zcGFyZW50OyB0cmFuc2Zv cm06IHRyYW5zbGF0ZVkoMTZweCk7Ij48L2Rpdj4gPGRpdiBzdHlsZT0iIGJh Y2tncm91bmQtY29sb3I6ICNGNEY0RjQ7IGZsZXgtZ3JvdzogMDsgaGVpZ2h0 OiAxMnB4OyB3aWR0aDogMTZweDsgdHJhbnNmb3JtOiB0cmFuc2xhdGVZKC00 cHgpOyI+PC9kaXY+IDxkaXYgc3R5bGU9IiB3aWR0aDogMDsgaGVpZ2h0OiAw OyBib3JkZXItdG9wOiA4cHggc29saWQgI0Y0RjRGNDsgYm9yZGVyLWxlZnQ6 IDhweCBzb2xpZCB0cmFuc3BhcmVudDsgdHJhbnNmb3JtOiB0cmFuc2xhdGVZ KC00cHgpIHRyYW5zbGF0ZVgoOHB4KTsiPjwvZGl2PjwvZGl2PjwvZGl2PiA8 ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSJkaXNwbGF5OiBmbGV4OyBmbGV4LWRpcmVjdGlvbjogY29s dW1uOyBmbGV4LWdyb3c6IDE7IGp1c3RpZnktY29udGVudDogY2VudGVyOyBt YXJnaW4tYm90dG9tOiAyNHB4OyI+IDxkaXYgc3R5bGU9IiBiYWNrZ3JvdW5k LWNvbG9yOiAjRjRGNEY0OyBib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOiA0cHg7IGZsZXgtZ3Jv dzogMDsgaGVpZ2h0OiAxNHB4OyBtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tOiA2cHg7IHdpZHRo OiAyMjRweDsiPjwvZGl2PiA8ZGl2IHN0eWxlPSIgYmFja2dyb3VuZC1jb2xv cjogI0Y0RjRGNDsgYm9yZGVyLXJhZGl1czogNHB4OyBmbGV4LWdyb3c6IDA7 IGhlaWdodDogMTRweDsgd2lkdGg6IDE0NHB4OyI+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9h PjxwIHN0eWxlPSIgY29sb3I6I2M5YzhjZDsgZm9udC1mYW1pbHk6QXJpYWws c2Fucy1zZXJpZjsgZm9udC1zaXplOjE0cHg7IGxpbmUtaGVpZ2h0OjE3cHg7 IG1hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MDsgbWFyZ2luLXRvcDo4cHg7IG92ZXJmbG93Omhp ZGRlbjsgcGFkZGluZzo4cHggMCA3cHg7IHRleHQtYWxpZ246Y2VudGVyOyB0 ZXh0LW92ZXJmbG93OmVsbGlwc2lzOyB3aGl0ZS1zcGFjZTpub3dyYXA7Ij48 YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL3AvQ3JMc09va0x1 TDQvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9aWdfZW1iZWQmYW1wO3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1sb2Fk aW5nIiBzdHlsZT0iIGNvbG9yOiNjOWM4Y2Q7IGZvbnQtZmFtaWx5OkFyaWFs LHNhbnMtc2VyaWY7IGZvbnQtc2l6ZToxNHB4OyBmb250LXN0eWxlOm5vcm1h bDsgZm9udC13ZWlnaHQ6bm9ybWFsOyBsaW5lLWhlaWdodDoxN3B4OyB0ZXh0 LWRlY29yYXRpb246bm9uZTsiIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIj5BIHBvc3Qgc2hh cmVkIGJ5IEdyYW50IE5lbHNvbiAoQGdyYW50aW5lbHNvbik8L2E+PC9wPjwv ZGl2PjwvYmxvY2txdW90ZT4KPHNjcmlwdCBhc3luYyBzcmM9Ii8vcGxhdGZv cm0uaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9lbl9VUy9lbWJlZHMuanMiPjwvc2NyaXB0Pjwv ZGl2Pgo8L2Rpdj4KCg==

This season, the 6'11", 235-pound junior lit up the mid-major world, averaging 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game for the Bison. He shot 52.1 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free-throw line. His percentage from deep was not indicative of his ability to shoot the three this season, as he made just 26.9 percent of his triples. As a sophomore, he shot 32.2 percent from three and as a freshman, he shot 35.6 percent from three.

By way of his performance, he earned spots on the Summit League's First Team and All-Defensive Team.

During the season, Nelson went viral for several clips on Twitter and was dubbed a 'unicorn' for his ability to pass, handle the ball, throw down dunks and make plays given his size and the level at which he played.

See for yourself:

At Iowa, Nelson could provide a shot-creator and shot-maker the team could desperately use in the frontcourt, along with a much-needed defensive presence around the rim. Nelson would likely play a mixture of the four and five positions for the Hawkeyes along with Valparaiso transfer, Ben Krikke.

Nelson has received a bevy of interest after entering the portal, including from programs like Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Creighton, Alabama, Arkansas, Houston, Baylor, and others in addition to Iowa.

He has two years of eligibility remaining.