Grant Nelson is one of the top NCAA transfer portal targets of the 2023 offseason.

The 6-11 center out of North Dakota State is a certified baller for the Bison and is considered one of the top players available in the portal. It isn’t hard to see why either. Last season, Nelson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

And he was doing so against quality opponents, too. He recorded 11 points and 9 rebounds against Kansas and 17 points with 6 rebounds against Arkansas to start last season.

Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman must have noticed Nelson’s potential in that game, because the Razorbacks are considered well in the race for Nelson as we near mid-June. Alabama is also a top option. Nelson held official visits to both this past weekend.

On3Sports’ Joe Tipton reported Saturday that Nelson is expected to announce his commitment by Sunday or Monday. Even though the Tide and Razorbacks have not specifically been named finalists, both are considered frontrunners.

From an outside point of view, Alabama seems like the obvious choice here. The Tide will be without plenty of talent from last season’s No. 1 squad. Nelson would essentially be walking directly into a starting gig in Tuscaloosa.

Arkansas is a bit trickier. The Razorbacks have done work in the portal this offseason and will likely put a top 15-20 squad to the court. Nelson could potentially start with Arkansas, but there’s a lot more talent to traverse in Fayetteville with plenty of incoming talent, some solid returning pieces (Devo Davis, Trevon Brazile) and a solid freshman class.