NCAA Basketball: 10 teams that should target North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson

Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans are a preseason top-10 team at the moment but there’s always some levels of improvement that can be made. That includes the frontcourt, where they could lose double-digit scorer Joey Hauser at the four-spot. They do add five-star forward Xavier Booker but Coach Tom Izzo usually prefers veterans in crunch time and Nelson would be that guy.

Mady Sissoko as a starting center is good but not great for a Final Four contender, which is the expectation for Michigan State in 2024. They’re a “missing piece” away from being the team to beat in the Big Ten and Nelson could be that kind of player that takes them to the next level.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Transfers at the four-spot have had both a positive and negative impact on UNC in the past two years. It was great with Brady Manek, leading them to the national title game. It didn’t work with Pete Nance this past season, despite having good numbers at Northwestern in the year prior.

Nelson is more comparable to Nance than Manek when it comes to being a natural fit alongside center Armando Bacot. However, Nelson would be an upgrade at the four-spot over Louisville transfer Jae’lyn Withers and his all-around ability is a boost in the starting lineup. And with Harrison Ingram around, there are plenty of capable passers among the projected starters that can more easily get the ball to Bacot inside.