Arkansas to host major portal prospect

Throughout the entire off-season, Arkansas was linked with North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson. Now the smoke clears, as Nelson plans to visit Arkansas on Thursday.

Nelson is pinned by many as a “unicorn,” meaning there are not many like him. The nickname is for good reason too, as Nelson is extremely athletic for his size, and can play in and out. His dunk tape went viral in the middle of last year’s college basketball season, and he’s been a hot commodity since.

https://twitter.com/will_whitson2/status/1663634271066546178?s=20

Many schools have been interested in Nelson since he entered the portal, but after he pulled his name out of the NBA Draft, the interest grew. Nelson currently has three visits ahead according to On3 Sports, as he will visit Alabama on Tuesday, Arkansas on Thursday, and no official date for his visit to Baylor.

Nelson would fit in perfectly with Eric Musselman’s Arkansas team, playing alongside similar big Trevon Brazile. The Hogs seem needy for another forward to take the last roster spot, and Nelson would be an amazing match to fill that role.

Nelson put his name in the NBA Draft after a stellar year at North Dakota State, averaging 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Not receiving the feedback he wanted, he elected to go all in on the transfer portal to improve his stock. Eric Musselman has proven his talent of putting players in the league, which could be very appealing for a player like Nelson. In a similar situation to Ricky Council IV last year, Nelson looks to transfer to a bigger school to showcase his ability to lock himself into first round conversation.

Getting a very intriguing player like Nelson in Fayetteville could boost Arkansas’s chances at a national championship and could also give Musselman the most talented roster he’s ever had. The Hogs under Musselman have had an extreme amount of success, but landing Nelson might give Muss the missing piece for Arkansas to go the distance.