Tide’s Nelson Named to Karl Malone Award Watch List

He has yet to play his first game in crimson, but the nation knows about Grant Nelson.

The Alabama men's basketball forward is one of 20 candidates named to the 2024 Karl Malone Award Watch List, which recognizes the top power forwards in men's college basketball each year.

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The list will be narrowed down to 10 by late January, with plans to announce five finalists in late March. The winner of the award along with presentation details will be announced near the end of the 2023-24 season at the Final Four in Phoenix, AZ.

More on Nelson

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The North Dakota State transfer is among three players from the SEC to be named to the watch list, joining Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile and Mississippi State’s Tolu Smith.

Nelson is ranked as the No. 17 NCAA transfer according to ESPN.com.

He enters this season as the No. 41 returning scorer in Division I after averaging 19.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals last season.

Nelson garnered First Team All-Summit League honors in 2023 while becoming the  second NDSU player to ever be a USBWA All-District honoree.

Nelson scored 1,043 career points and grabbed 520 rebounds for the Bison, including a career-high 36 points last season against rival North Dakota.

Before becoming a starter, the 6-11 Nelson was named Summit League Sixth Man of the Year in 2021 while earning a spot on the Summit League All-Newcomer Team during his freshman season.

He is considered a first round NBA draft prospect. In Alabama's four-point loss Sunday in Birmingham to TCU, Nelson just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.