Potential Nets 2026 NBA Draft pick Izaiyah Nelson talks unique path

CHICAGO -- The Brooklyn Nets will have to decide who they will be taking in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft after coming away from the Lottery with the No. 6 overall pick. However, Brooklyn also has to evaluate they will take with one of their two second-round picks and there is one guy who believes that he can be successful at the next level.

"I'm here in the NBA Draft combine, and I'm one of three mid major players to be in it. I've already had workouts with the Phoenix Suns and the Washington Wizards, and I feel like they all were good workouts," South Florida forward Izaiyah Nelson said to Nets Wire during the NBA Draft Combine on Wednesday. To Nelson's point, he is one of three mid-major players that received an invite to the Combine and he's looking to be the first player drafted from USF since 2010.

"I feel like I can fit anywhere, like if the Brooklyn Nets drafted me, I feel like I could bring a big key to them, bring that energy, bring that like most people don't know how to bring it," Nelson said to Nets Wire when asked if he felt like he could fit the culture established by head coach Jordi Fernandez. "My whole career, I've been the energy guy. I love being that kind of guy, and I just, I love the game of basketball."

Nelson, 22, could be one of the players that the Nets consider with their 43rd pick (second-round) and Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has him being taken 44th overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Nelson had the best season of his four-year college career as a senior with the South Florida Bulls as he averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds (led the American conference), and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 56.1% from the field and 14.3% from behind the three-point line.