By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

DEVILS LAKE – Grant Nelson, a 2020 Devils Lake High School graduate, is headed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four.

Nelson scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds to help the University of Alabama to a 89-82 win over Clemson in the West Regional championship game during the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Tournament on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Nelson and the Crimson Tide, who were the No. 4 seed in the West Regional, will play No. 1 overall seed University of Connecticut (UConn) in the National Semifinals on Saturday, April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It will mark the first ever NCAA Final Four Appearance in program history for Alabama.

Nelson is the first former North Dakota prep boys basketball player to play in a NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four since Jeff Boschee, who played in the 2002 NCAA Final Four with the Kansas Jayhawks. Boschee, a 1998 Valley City High School graduate, scored 17 points in the Jayhawks’ 97-88 loss to Maryland in the 2002 National Semifinals.

Nelson has played a big role in Alabama’s tournament run in qualifying for the Final Four. 

Nelson powered Alabama’s 89-87 win over No. 1 seed North Carolina in the region semifinals on Thursday night. Nelson finished the game with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Nelson transferred to Alabama last summer after playing three seasons at North Dakota State University. Nelson has started in all 36 games for the Crimson Tide this season and is averaging 11.7 points per game.

Nelson was a two-time North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA) Class A Boys Basketball All-State Team selection – First Team as a senior and Second Team as a junior. Nelson also won NDAPSSA Mr. Basketball honors in 2020.

Nelson finished his prep boys basketball career with 1,058 points.  

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