BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama men's basketball guard Mark Sears was named the Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year, the league office announced Monday. In addition to Sears’ Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC honors, the Crimson Tide was picked to finish first in the league as voted on by a select panel of both SEC and national media members.
Sears was not the only Alabama player to earn preseason recognition, as he was joined by forward Grant Nelson who was named Preseason Second Team All-SEC.
Alabama Notes
This is the second time in program history (1991 and 2003) Alabama has been picked first in the SEC preseason poll
Alabama is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top-25 poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history, breaking the No. 7 ranking set in the 1990-91 season
Since head coach Nate Oats arrived at Alabama in 2019-20, the Crimson Tide has won a league-best 62 conference games, tied with Kentucky
Mark Sears Notes
Mark Sears joins Erwin Dudley (2003) as the only players in program history to be named as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year
For the second straight season, Sears has earned Preseason All-SEC honors after being named Preseason Second Team All-SEC last year
Sears is the nation’s fourth-highest returning scorer in the country, averaging 21.5 points per game
Last season, Sears was a Second Team Associated Press All-America selection and a First Team All-SEC honoree
Grant Nelson Notes
Grant Nelson has earned Preseason All-SEC honors for the second straight season, as he was a Preseason First Team All-SEC last season
Nelson was named to the 2024 NCAA West Region All-Tournament team
Nelson averaged 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season
First Team All-SEC
Mark Sears – Alabama
Johni Broome – Auburn
Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida
Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee
Wade Taylor IV – Texas A&M
Second Team All-SEC
Grant Nelson – Alabama
Jonas Aidoo – Arkansas
Johnell Davis – Arkansas
Matthew Morrell – Ole Miss
Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State
Third Team All-SEC
Chad Baker-Mazara – Auburn
Alex Condon – Florida
Jaxson Robinson – Kentucky
Collin Murray-Boyles – South Carolina
Tramon Mark – Texas
SEC Player of the Year
Mark Sears – Alabama
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Tennessee
4. Arkansas
5. Texas A&M
6. Florida
7. Texas
8. Kentucky
9. Ole Miss
10. Mississippi State
11. South Carolina
12. Georgia
13. Missouri
14. LSU
15. Oklahoma
16. Vanderbilt
