Alabama guard Mark Sears has been nothing short on sensational this season, and the nation is beginning to take notice.
Sears was recognized Thursday as one of the best players in the nation, being named to the Naismith Trophy midseason team.
The Naismith Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in the sport, but has never been won by an Alabama player.
Sears leads the SEC in scoring at 20.5 points per game. He has scored 20 or more points in 15 games this season, including his last seven games.
He also ranks sixth in the conference in field goal percentage and eighth in assists with 51.3% and 3.9, respectively.
Sears is one of five SEC players to make the list along with Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, Kentucky’s Antonio Reeves, Auburn’s Johni Broome, and Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV.
He has helped to lead the Crimson Tide to a 9-2 record in the conference along with what is all but a guarantee at this point to be yet another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Sears transferred to Alabama from Ohio University before the 2022-23 season and has taken a huge leap offensively after a solid season last year in which he averaged over 12 points per game.
Alabama will next take on Texas A&M at home Saturday in their new retro uniforms. Tipoff is 11 a.m. and will be carried on ESPN.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.