Alabama fans held their breath for the entire month of May as the deadline approached for its star player to make a decision on his future.
Mark Sears sent Crimson Tide nation into a frenzy on Wednesday night by officially announcing that he would withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Tuscaloosa for his final year of eligibility. This decision follows the team’s historic first-ever Final Four appearance.
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While the team as a whole came together and improved their overall level of play, it was clear that Sears was the catalyst for Alabama’s potent offense all season long. Sears averaged over 21.5 points per game, along with four assists, while playing nearly 34 minutes per night—all career highs—leading Alabama to a historic season.
With his return, the team’s prospects for the upcoming season look even greater.
For the first time possibly ever, Alabama is among (and possibly at the top of) the preseason favorites to win a college basketball national championship.
It has been an outstanding offseason for Nate Oats and his staff. Landing Sears back was just the cherry on top.
While the team lost a couple of transfers, they did an unbelievable job in replacing talent they lost and adding pieces last year’s team didn’t have.
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Adding Chris Youngblood, Houston Mallette, and Aden Holloway out of the transfer portal at the guard position along with returning Latrell Wrightsell Jr and bringing in freshman LaBaron Philon gives the Tide one of the deepest backcourts in the nation.
The 2023-24 team struggled with rim protection, so Oats went out and added the best one in the portal in Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi, which will allow Grant Nelson (also returning) to slot back into his natural four position.
Jarin Stevenson, who also entered the draft pool, announced on Wednesday night that he too would be returning and should continue to develop.
Additionally, the team boasts the No. 2 incoming high school class in the nation, which includes five-stars Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell, as well as four-stars Philon and Naas Cunningham.
Every gap on the roster has been filled, creating what appears to be the deepest team in college basketball heading into the 2024-25 season.
The Alabama Crimson Tide may very well have its best chance ever to win a national championship in front of them.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
