1. Mark Sears
After being a backup guard as a freshman at Ohio, Sears put together a fantastic sophomore season, averaging nearly 20 points per game as one of the nation’s best shooters, taking the Bobcats to 25 wins. A few weeks later, he entered the Transfer Portal and found new lodging at Alabama. Just two seasons later, he’d actually put up even better production as one of the SEC’s top players.
Last year Sears was a senior and assumed the lead role for the Crimson Tide, averaging 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He was the SEC’s top scorer, with magnificent offensive production. Sears also was among the top SEC players in both steals and assists and stepped up nicely after the departure of Brandon Miller last offseason. There was a lot to love about his game as a senior, and that gives us even more excitement in his fifth and final collegiate campaign.
Sears showed promise as a mid-major but he’s truly blossomed since coming to Tuscaloosa two seasons ago. Not only is this flashy guard the number one option for Alabama again, he plays strong defense and might be the nation’s best backcourt weapon on any day. His trajectory only grew last season after leading Alabama to the Final Four, averaging nearly 25 points in their five Tournament games, and his momentum looks sky high for his final ride.