WINTER HAVEN – Polk State Basketball is set to return six players for the 2024-25 season, including its leading assist man, rebounder, and shot blocker. Among the outgoing Eagles, however, two have landed at four-year schools.

Guard Dominick Nelson will be heading to the NCAA Division I level. Forward Moses Gordon has found a new home at a very good NAIA program.

Nelson, a two-time All-Conference performer at Polk State, will be taking his talents west to Utah Valley University. A first-team All-Citrus Conference selection as a sophomore, Nelson averaged 20.1 points per game – good for fourth in the FCSAA and the highest average for a Polk State player in seven years.

"I just felt like it was the best fit for me," Nelson said. "The coaches come from a junior college background, so I knew they understood me. Once I went on my visit there and saw everything there was to see, I knew it was the place for me."

A native of Miami, Polk State was the only program to offer Nelson a scholarship out of high school. In addition to putting up big scoring numbers, Nelson ranked in the top 15 in the FCSAA by averaging 1.7 steals per game during the 2023-24 season. He was also an efficient scorer, shooting 45% from the field.

"I really grew at Polk State as a person and a player," Nelson said. "My coaches always had confidence in me and just pushed me to get better every day."

Gordon, a native of London, and a transfer from Williston State College, is headed to Missouri Baptist University. Gordon will join a program that has put together nine straight winning seasons, which includes two NAIA Tournament appearances over that stretch.

"I chose Missouri Baptist because of their qualities as a program," Gordon said. "They have success on and off the court and really value their image as an institution. They made it clear very early that I was what they needed and quickly got the process moving forward."

In his lone season at Polk State, Gordon played in 15 games with seven starts. He averaged 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line.

"(Head) Coach (Brandon) Giles and (Assistant) Coach (Josh Jackson) are really good coaches," Gordon added. "They're great people, too."

As Head Coach Brandon Giles enters his eighth season at Polk State, he's now had nearly 30 players sign with four-year schools and/or play professionally. Former Polk State standouts Tionne Rollins (Francis Marion University) and Keenon Cole (Lindenwood University) each earned All-Conference recognition at their four-year programs during the 2023-24 season.

"We tell our players as soon as they get here that we're providing a platform for them to become not just a better basketball player, but a better man," Giles said. "To see kids come here, sometimes without other offers, and sign with four-year schools is heartwarming. That's our goal for them."