 After graduating high school, he played one season for Prairie View A&M, starting 23 games for the Panthers.Nelson averaged 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and collected season totals of 22 blocks and 32 steals, leading his team in each category.Nelson and also shot 47.8% from the floor and was named South Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in the spring of 2004.