PHOENIX – With the Phoenix Suns lack of draft capital, the 47th pick in the 2026 NBA draft is an important one for the franchise. The roster’s current construction is quite guard-heavy, leading to many draft experts mocking Phoenix to target size with its pick. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Conner released his latest mock draft and has the Suns selecting South Florida forward Izaiyah Nelwon.
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Mar 19, 2026; Buffalo, NY, USA; South Florida Bulls forward Izaiyah Nelson (35) dunks the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
O’Conner on Nelson’s impressive collegiate career:
“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.”
Mar 19, 2026; Buffalo, NY, USA; South Florida Bulls forward Izaiyah Nelson (35) reacts during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Outside of Dillon Brooks and Ryan Dunn, head coach Jordan Ott didn’t have many forwards with size to throw at bigger opposing players. The Suns struggled mightily with that fact, which led to the sweep in the first round vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nelson has the size, wingspan and weight to be an NBA-ready player for the Suns to battle against bigger wings.
Nelson was the American conference player of the year and made an immediate impact for South Florida. The 22-year-old averaged 15.9 points and a conference-leading 9.6 rebounds per game. His athleticism helps him grab offensive boards and get easy putbacks. With 4.0 offensive rebounds a game, Nelson led the American in field goal percentage and two-point percentage. While his outside shooting is non-existent, the big man’s raw power more than makes up for that shortcoming.
East All-Stars South Florida Izaiyah Nelson (31) rushes up the court Friday, April 3, 2026, during the Reese’s DI College All-Stars game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
His 7’3 wingspan allows him to cause havoc on the defensive end, as Nelson averaged 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks his senior season. The defensive intensity would fit perfect in Ott’s system next to Brooks to create a box for opposing offensive players. Last year, the Suns drafted Rasheer Fleming to fulfill that role, and in limited minutes, passed with flying colors. Nelson will come in with the same hopes and likely be the same archetype of player as Fleming to solidify the team’s defensive identify.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
