BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- For the second time in program history, an Alabama men's basketball student-athlete has been selected as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year.
Guard Mark Sears received the honor from the league office Monday. The Muscle Shoals native elected to stay at Alabama for his fifth season of college basketball after recording 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists per contest in the 2023-24 campaign. He is the nation's fourth-highest returning scorer.
Sears ended last season as a Second Team Associated Press All-America pick and a member of the First Team All-SEC, playing a major role in taking Alabama to its first Final Four. The 6-foot-1 guard transferred to Alabama after spending two seasons at Ohio. Erwin Dudley is the other player in program history to be picked as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year. He earned that feat in 2003.
The Crimson Tide, which is ranked No. 2 in the AP college men's basketball preseason poll, was chosen by a group of SEC national reporters to finish first in the SEC. Before Monday, the highest Alabama has ever been in the AP preseason poll is No. 7, which it received before the 1990-91 slate.
Forward Grant Nelson was placed on the Second Team All-SEC for the preseason. Nelson, who transferred from North Dakota State ahead of last season, averaged 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 assists per game for the Tide.
Alabama tips off its 2024-25 schedule versus UNC Asheville at Coleman Coliseum on Nov. 4.