Fairfield’s All-Time Leading Scorer Begins his Professional Career in the NBA G League
From starring on the high school courts of Massachusetts to lighting up the MAAC for four seasons with Fairfield Men’s Basketball, Tyler Nelson ’18 will now be plying his craft on the hardwood of the NBA G League. The Stags’ all-time leading scorer was the third overall pick in last Saturday’s G League Draft as he was called into action by the Greensboro Swarm.
An affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, the Swarm’s roster boasts a bevy of former collegiate standouts including players from prominent NCAA programs such as Arkansas, Virginia, Ohio State, and Louisville.
"I'm so proud of Tyler because I know how hard he competed and in the end he made NBA organizations take note of what he was accomplishing at Fairfield," Stags Head Men's Basketball Coach Sydney Johnson said. "He's left a huge legacy at ¶¶Òô»ÆƬapp and I know our alumni and fans will join me in cheering for him every step of the way."
In Nelson’s four years at Fairfield, the 6-3 shooting guard established himself as one of the all-time greats in program history. His 2,172 career points stand atop the Stags’ all-time charts and fifth among all players in the history of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
His senior campaign in 2017-18 included First Team All-MAAC selection and Fairfield Male Athlete of the Year laurels. He averaged 22.2 points per game, which amounted to 732 total points, to become the only player in Stags’ history to surpass over 700 points in a season.
At his best, Nelson dominated the game from all three levels as a scorer, but he was most well-known for his prowess from beyond the arc. Nelson holds the Fairfield record for career three-pointers with 315, and he broke the single-season record in his senior year when he knocked down 104 triples for the Stags.
His final year saw him help carry the Stags to the MAAC Championship Game, capping off a virtuoso weekend that cemented his status as a Fairfield legend. After the season ended, Nelson was named to the NABC All-District First Team and the All-Met Writers First Team.
Nelson was then invited to play in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Star Game in San Antonio, where he also participated in the 3v3 Tournament held at Final Four weekend. Nelson suited up alongside a group of some of the best players from the MAAC as they competed against stars from other Division I conferences.
He also participated at the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and, as he has done on every stage, Nelson stood out from the pack. He scored the game-winner in the closing seconds of the Championship Game, leading his team with 19 points in that contest to garner a place on the All-Tournament Team.
The beginning of his professional career saw Nelson earn invitations to workouts with the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. Ultimately, he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves to take part in the NBA Summer League.
Now, as a member of the Swarm, Nelson remains in the running to earn a place on an NBA roster this season and beyond. A total of 198 players currently on NBA rosters are alumni of the NBA G League.
Nelson and the Swarm begin their season on Friday, Nov.2 with a visit to the Wisconsin Herd. He will be closest to his alma mater on Nov. 27, when the Swarm will challenge the Long Island Nets at Nassau Coliseum, and on Feb. 3 for a clash with the Westchester Knicks in White Plains, N.Y.
