Relentless energy helps power award-winning season
By JOEY JOHNSTON, ’81 // USF Athletics
Senior Izaiyah Nelson had one of the most spectacular and decorated seasons in USF men’s basketball history.
A 6-foot-10, 218-pound transfer from Arkansas State, Nelson was the catalyst behind USF’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 and its first conference tournament title since 1990. The American Conference named him Player of the Year, its Defensive Player of the Year and its Newcomer of the Year — the league’s first clean sweep of those awards.
Nelson posted 15.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while adding 48 blocks, helping lead the Bulls to a program record-tying 25 wins and conference regular season and tournament titles. It marked the second regular-season conference title in three years for a South Florida men’s basketball program on the rise.
When he arrived in college basketball, Nelson says, he was “very immature.” Once he learned the concepts of accountability and relentless work, his career soared to new heights.
“Coach trusted me and poured into me every single day,’’ says Nelson, who became the third USF men’s basketball player ever with a 500-point, 300-rebound season. “I began to understand that defense leads to offense — and defense wins games. Our whole team knows that now.”
On and off the court, Nelson has an electric personality and seemingly inexhaustible energy. He’s always on, smiling, encouraging, joking or demanding performance from his teammates.
“When you’re around Izaiyah Nelson, it makes you step up to the plate,’’ junior guard Wes Enis says. “If you’re not at his energy level, it makes you stick out. So you’ve got to match his energy and get after it.’’
“I’ve never seen a motor like the one he has,’’ says senior guard Joseph Pinion, who played with Nelson at Arkansas State. “When you’re around him every day, it doesn’t seem that unusual, but seeing all the awards he received and how he has dominated this season, it’s very special.”
A communication major, Nelson graduated in May. He was invited to the NBA Draft combine, the first USF player to receive an invitation since 2010, and is expected to be drafted. He says he will always remember his season in Tampa.
“USF made a humongous impact on me,’’ he says. “I’m very grateful to be here as part of USF’s Tampa family. They treated me like I was one of their own, like I’ve been here all four years. What more can you ask from a school?”