Mark Sears to withdraw from the NBA draft and return to Alabama.
Mark Sears of Alabama will withdraw from the NBA draft to return to school for his final season of eligibility, he told ESPN on Wednesday.
“I got good feedback from the NBA,” Sears told ESPN. “But I can still improve in a few areas. I want to prove that I am a dog on defense next season, continue to provide vocal leadership, and work on my body to get in better shape. NIL has altered basketball, and NBA organizations have told me that age is no longer a factor in today’s game, so I felt comfortable returning to Alabama to try to bring home a national championship.”
The NCAA deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA draft while maintaining collegiate eligibility was Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
In addition to Sears, Alabama’s Jarin Stevenson withdrew from the draft before the deadline, according to ESPN sources. Stevenson averaged 5.3 points as a freshman last year.
Sears was one of college basketball’s top players in 2023-24, garnering second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC recognition. He led Alabama to the Final Four after multiple strong performances in the NCAA tournament.
The Alabama native led one of the nation’s fastest-paced and most potent attacks, averaging 21.5 points (44 percent from three), 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
Sears improved significantly from the previous year, becoming a considerably more dynamic shooter and prolific overall scorer, a trend he expects to continue in his fifth season of collegiate basketball.
“I’ve gotten better every year and next season won’t be any different,” Sears stated. “I got a taste of the Final Four, and now I want to finish it off and bring it home.”
Sears’ return to Tuscaloosa is a significant boost for Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide, who will begin the season as one of the early favorites to win the national championship.
Alabama returns another March Madness favorite in Grant Nelson for his final season of eligibility, who is arguably Sears’ biggest opponent for preseason SEC Player of the Year, as well as part-time starter Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
The Tide added Rutgers big Cliff Omoruyi, USF wing and AAC Co-Player of the Year Chris Youngblood, former Auburn five-star point guard Aden Holloway, and Pepperdine shooting guard Houston Mallette.
Derrion Reid, Labaron Philon, Aiden Sherrell, and Naas Cunningham are among Oats’ promising high school recruits.
“I’m very excited about the team we have coming in,” said Sears. “I’ll have to do a good job guiding these men in the proper direction. “I am confident that we can win the national championship.”