Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor mocks disruptive big Izaiyah Nelson to Suns

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor has the Phoenix Suns taking South Florida forward Izaiyah Nelson with the 47th pick in his latest mock for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Nelson is a 6-8 athlete with a 7-3 wingspan who feasts on lobs, rebounds in traffic and disrupts everywhere on defense. He sets a tone any time he’s on the floor. After three years at Arkansas State, he followed his coach to USF and proceeded to put up one of the most decorated mid-major seasons in recent memory by becoming the first player in American Conference history to win Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Even though he lacks creation and shooting abilities, he made jaw-dropping plays at the Portsmouth Invitational, then earned an NBA Draft Combine invite, and now has a chance to go in the second round.

Nelson averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in his senior season.

Nelson shot about 56% percent last season on about 10 shots per game, and hit 72.5% of his nearly six free throws per game. But he didn’t pose much of a threat from deep, shooting 14.3% on 1.4 3-point attempts per game.

If drafted by the Suns, he would join a big rotation that could lose Mark Williams (restricted free agent) but should return draft picks Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro. As an undersized center who measured just 6-foot-8.25 at the NBA Draft Combine, Phoenix would have to determine if he would fit around those players and alongside a wing rotation that includes Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, Haywood Highsmith, Royce O’Neale and Rasheer Fleming.

The USF forward had 18 double-doubles last year, including one against Alabama, and nine games with at least 20 points, including both times the Bulls played ranked opponents (Alabama and Louisville).

Nelson also earned NABC first team All-Southeast District honors and was the 2025-2026 USF Male Athlete of the Year, in addition to the accolades O’Connor listed above.

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