Grant Nelson Announces Alabama Return

The Alabama Crimson Tide have undergone some major roster turnover since returning to Tuscaloosa from Phoenix for the Final Four. The Tide lost six scholarship players to the transfer portal and could lose its top two guards from 2023-2024 to the NBA. Aaron Estrada is out of collegiate eligibility, and Mark Sears declared for the NBA draft, but is still maintaining his college eligibility, If Sears does decide to return to college, he'll have until May 29 to back out of the draft. After that date, if Sears has not withdrawn from the draft, he'll lose his college eligibility and go to the NBA.

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Grant Nelson, Alabama's big man, was faced with a similar decision. Nelson had a strong NCAA tournament run and was drawing some attention from the NBA. Nelson also had the opportunity to transfer and play his final season of college basketball away from Alabama, but that option did not seem like a reality for Nelson. After the Tide's loss to UConn in the Final Four, Alabama head coach Nate Oats said he would welcome Nelson back with open arms if he decided to return to college.

While Nelson had to have an official decision made by Saturday night at 11:59 p.m. ET, the deadline passed with no official decision or announcement from Nelson. Now, the speculation is confirmed, as Alabama's Grrant Nelson has announced he is returning to the Capstone for his final year of eligibility, per his Instagram.

Nelson transferred to Alabama ahead of the 2023-2024 season. He originally played at North Dakota State University. In his one season at Alabama, Nelson averaged 11.9 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 48.8% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range. Nelson was also an 81.3% shooter from the free-throw line.

He played the five for Alabama last season, but at 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, Nelson was a little small and light for that position. The hope is he will be able to play the stretch four for Alabama if he does return in 2024, a position he appears to be more comfortable in. Alabama is heavily in the mix for the top big in the transfer portal with Clifford Omoruyi set to visit the Tide on Sunday.

Tide 100.9 is keeping a roster tracker for Alabama men's basketball ahead of the 2024-2025 season. You can view the tracker here.