Alabama basketball is headed to North Dakota and Grant Nelson’s backyard.

The Crimson Tide will travel to the Betty Englestad Sioux Center for the first of a three-game series, UND announced on its website Friday afternoon. The first game is set for Dec. 18.

“Not often do you get a potential top-5 ranked team to come to Grand Forks! It should be an awesome environment and opportunity to compete against a great team on our home court,” UND head coach Paul Sather said in a statement.

Per Sather, UND assistant basketball coach Jamie Stevens contacted Alabama once Nelson announced his return back for a final year of collegiate eligibility on April 29. Sather said that Alabama head coach Nate Oats “jumped” at the idea, and now the sides will square off once in North Dakota and twice in Tuscaloosa (2025-26 and 2027-28).

Nelson is a native of Devils Lake, N.D., and was the state’s Mr. Basketball and first-team all-state honoree in 2020. He started his collegiate career at North Dakota State and averaged 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game with UA last year.

Alabama’s non-conference schedule continues to be noteworthy. Nelson’s homecoming will be paired with trips to Purdue and Las Vegas (tournament). Alabama will also host Creighton. The school hasn’t officially announced its participation in the Las Vegas Players Era Festival or its game against North Dakota.

UA and UND have never met. The Fighting Hawks posted an 18-14 record last season.