The Orlando Magic added one of the more intriguing second-round prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft when they acquired Izaiyah Nelson, a high-energy forward/center from the University of South Florida.
Nelson was originally selected with the 51st overall pick by the Washington Wizards, but Nelson’s draft rights were dealt to Orlando, giving the Magic another athletic frontcourt player with significant upside.
Nelson is the first USF player drafted into the NBA since 2010, when Dominique Jones was selected in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies.
This ends a 16-year drought for the Bulls. Nelson is the ninth player in USF history to be drafted, and just the third USF player ever selected in the first two rounds.
Nelson is coming off a breakout senior season in which he established himself as one of the best players in the American Athletic Conference and one of the best big men in the nation. Nelson averaged 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and over one steal per game.
His outstanding season earned him American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and First Team All-AAC honors.
His relentless motor and consistent production made him one of the nation’s top frontcourt players and elevated him onto NBA draft boards.
It has been a long road for Nelson from Marietta High School to being drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft. Nelson committed to Arkansas State out of Marietta High School and enrolled for the 2022-23 season.
Nelson had already completed his freshman season when Bryan Hodgson was hired as head basketball coach at Arkansas State. Hodgson did not think much of Nelson when he took over the Arkansas State program. Hodgson was contemplating cutting Nelson loose from the program and, at one point, said, “He wasn’t very good.”
Hodgson began working with Nelson and found that the real issue was that Nelson wanted to succeed, but no one had worked with him on the work he needed to put in to succeed.
What followed was a breakout season at Arkansas State, and when Hodgson came to USF, he brought Nelson along. He would become a key player for USF in their AAC Championship season.
At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, Nelson thrives by doing the little things that winning teams value. He runs the floor well, attacks the offensive glass, protects the rim, finishes above the basket, and plays with tremendous effort on every possession.
He isn’t a polished perimeter shooter yet, but his athleticism and defensive instincts allow him to impact games without needing the ball in his hand.
How will Nelson fit in with the Orlando Magic?
Nelson fills a role the Magic have valued for years: an energetic, defensive-minded big man who can provide depth behind the team’s established frontcourt.
While he is unlikely to step into a major role immediately, he gives new head coach Sean Sweeney another versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and bring intensity off the bench.
The biggest impact of Nelson’s arrival could be on Orlando’s reserve frontcourt. Veterans such as Goga Bitadze and Jonathan Isaac have both faced questions about their long-term futures with the franchise. Isaac has struggled with injuries throughout his career, while Bitadze’s role could fluctuate depending on roster moves.
Nelson gives the Magic a younger, less expensive option who can eventually compete for minutes if he develops offensively.
Nelson should also complement Orlando’s young core led by Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Desmond Bane. Those players carry much of the offensive burden, allowing Nelson to focus on rebounding, defending, setting screens, and finishing around the rim. Nelson embraced that role at USF, and that could make him a valuable rotational piece over time.
But Nelson’s greatest strength is not his basketball ability, but his work ethic. The Magic front office has consistently targeted high-character players who embrace development, and Nelson fits that profile perfectly.
After beginning his college career at Arkansas State before transferring to USF, he improved every season and developed into one of college basketball’s most productive forwards. That steady progression suggests he still has room to grow. The Magic aren’t expecting Nelson to become an immediate star. Instead, they’re betting on his energy, toughness, and defensive versatility translating to the NBA.
If he continues to develop offensively while maintaining the relentless effort that defined his college career, Izaiyah Nelson could become another valuable piece in Orlando’s young roster and eventually carve out a meaningful role on a team with playoff aspirations.