As the Arizona Wildcats get ready for the 2025-26 season, Tucson native Evan Nelson says he’s excited to play in the Big 12 and for a program he’s grown up on.

“It feels great to be home and to be a part of this program that I’ve watched all my life growing up,” Nelson said in a press conference on Friday.

“To know the history that’s behind this program and to now be a part of it and have the opportunity to play at the biggest stage in college basketball, it’s the best feeling and it’s been the best time so far.”

Nelson, a former three-star prospect from Salpointe Catholic High School, signed with the Wildcats through the transfer portal in April after three seasons with Harvard. In 27 games with the Crimson last season, the 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 9.1 points (45.5% shooting), three rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

He joins a Wildcats team that had a good recruiting class this offseason, which featured five-star recruits Brayden Burries and Koa Peat.

Evan Nelson has ‘welcome to the Big 12’ moment during workout

Nelson detailed one of his first workouts on the team, including with new backcourt teammates Burries and Jaden Bradley that gave him a preview of playing Big 12 basketball.

“Starting out, I had a welcome to Arizona basketball, ‘welcome to the Big 12’ moment being in a workout with Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries and JB just running through me and I fell over and he made a layup and everybody is like ‘welcome to the Big 12,’” Nelson said.

Despite the workout, Nelson is not deterred by the moment and looks forward to playing for the Wildcats this upcoming season.

“I definitely feel like I belong and just to be in RJ (Richard Jefferson Gymnasium) and just look at the guys who are on the wall,” Nelson said. “It just puts into perspective that lineage of history and hard work. I feel like I belong here and I’m happy to be a Wildcat.”

Nelson looking forward to opportunity to earn playing time

Nelson said it will be a battle to earn minutes in the rotation but he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“We’ve got a star-studded class of freshmen and returners so every day it’s a grind to try to earn those minutes,” Nelson said. “When and if I do get those minutes, it’s about being as aggressive as I can be defensively and offensively. I do think there will be opportunities for me and it’s just making the most of them when I do get out there to play some minutes.”