### Mark Sears Withdraws from 2024 NBA Draft, Returning to Alabama for Fifth Season
Mark Sears has decided to withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft and will return to Alabama for his fifth season, the school confirmed on Wednesday evening. Sears, a consensus second-team All-American guard last season, announced his decision with a post on X saying, “Last dance #rolltide.”
For the second consecutive offseason, Sears entered the NBA draft pool in April with the option to return to school. He participated in the NBA draft combine earlier this month and had a final workout scheduled with the Milwaukee Bucks before the 11 p.m. CT deadline to withdraw and maintain NCAA eligibility. “I got good feedback from the NBA,” Sears told ESPN. “But I can still get better in a few areas. I want to show I am a dog on defense next season, continue to bring vocal leadership, and work on my body and get into better shape.”
Sears was ranked No. 80 on ESPN’s best-available players for the upcoming 58-pick draft. At the combine, he measured 5-foot-10 and 1/4 inches without shoes, the shortest of any participant.
### Alabama’s Reinforced Backcourt and Roster
Sears’ return bolsters Alabama’s backcourt with experienced veterans. Both Sears and Latrell Wrightsell are utilizing the NCAA’s COVID waiver for an additional season. Alabama also added fifth-year transfer guards Chris Youngblood (USF) and Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), along with former five-star recruit Aden Holloway from Auburn, and signed guard Labaron Philon, a top recruit released from his letter of intent by Kansas.
Alabama’s frontcourt will feature fifth-year Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi and Grant Nelson, who also returned for another season. The team aims to build on their historic Final Four appearance last season, where they ultimately lost to national champion UConn. “I got a taste of the Final Four, and now I want to finish it off and bring it home,” Sears told ESPN. “I’m very excited about the team we have coming in. I will have to do a good job of leading these guys in the right direction. I’m confident we can win the national championship.”
### Sears’ College Career and Achievements
Sears, originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, played his first two seasons at Ohio before transferring to Alabama for the 2022-23 season. Returning for his senior season after initially entering the draft, he became the SEC’s second-leading scorer and was named a first-team All-SEC pick by both the coaches and the Associated Press. He set Alabama’s single-season scoring record and became the school’s third-ever consensus second-team All-American. Additionally, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the West region in the NCAA tournament and was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s best shooting guard.
“I’ve gotten better every year and next season won’t be any different,” Sears told ESPN.
