Carolina Smoke 15U’s time at the Southeast Kickoff began inauspiciously before Nelson helped her team turn the tide with a pair of victories on Sunday. Nelson is a multi-sport athlete who also plays volleyball for 7A Topsail alongside what she gets accomplished on the basketball court. Even though she stands at 6-foot-1, Nelson does not limit herself to being only able to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities. She can operate as a shooting guard as well and can be found on many an occasion on the wing. If she is near the basket to receive a transition or cross-court pass, one can count on Nelson getting two more points for her squad – and a possible chance at an old-fashioned 3-point try. 

The question that often gets asked to players of Nelson’s stature is if they play either basketball or volleyball. Nelson excels at both at Topsail. Nelson is an efficient runner of the floor at 6-foot-1 and has a length that compliments her height. Typically, players of Nelson’s stature play at the four but Nelson thrives in both the backcourt as a two guard and in the frontcourt as a small forward – meaning she can spend plenty of time at the wing. When running a transition play, it is a good idea to have Nelson on the receiving end of a pass in close proximity to the basket.