After leading them to their first Final Four, Mark Sears returns to Tuscaloosa.
Sears withdrew from the NBA Draft before Wednesday’s deadline and will return to Alabama for his final season of eligibility. he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
“I got good feedback from the NBA,” Sears said. “But I can still improve in some areas. I want to prove that I am a dog on defense next season, continue to provide vocal leadership, work on my body and get in better shape. NIL has changed basketball and NBA teams said it. “For me, age is not a factor in today’s game, so I felt comfortable coming back to try to bring home a national championship to Alabama.”
Sears shined for Alabama last season while leading the Crimson Tide to its best streak in program history. He averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists last season. He shot nearly 51% from the field and also nearly 44% from behind the arc. Sears was not listed in any of Krysten Peek’s latest mock drafts for Yahoo Sports.
Sears led Alabama past top-seeded North Carolina and Clemson to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history earlier this spring. The Crimson Tide then fell to UConn, which won a second straight title, in the first round in Phoenix.
Sears is one of several key Alabama players who will return next season. Grant Nelson, who came to life in the Sweet 16 to help them defeat the Tar Heels, is back for another year and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. will join them. Head coach Nate Oats has already landed several key players to transfer, including Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi, Auburn guard Aden Holloway and South Florida guard Chris Youngblood, among others. Five-star Rivals.com recruits Aiden Sherrell and Derrion Reid He will also join Oats’ staff.
The team will not only be a favorite in the SEC next fall, but also a top-10 team nationally that is absolutely capable of making another deep run in March.
“I’m very excited about the team we have,” Sears said. “I’m going to have to do a good job of leading these guys in the right direction. “I am confident we can win the national championship.”