SAD NEWS: Alabama wide receiver, Shazz Preston who sustained an injury during his last match, will be sidelined until next season.

Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears has been named one of the 15 finalists for the prestigious Wooden Award, recognizing the top college basketball player in the nation. As the sole returning starter from last season’s championship-winning Crimson Tide team, Sears undertook the significant responsibility of integrating eight new scholarship players into the squad. Despite the challenge, Sears has excelled, leading Alabama both in scoring and in the entire SEC with an impressive 21.1 points per game average. Under his leadership, the Crimson Tide have achieved a commendable 21-10 regular season record and secured a No. 16 ranking in the AP Poll, positioning themselves for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

In a thrilling overtime victory against Arkansas, Sears played a pivotal role, contributing a team-high 22 points along with six assists, second only to fellow guard Aaron Estrada. This recent accolade adds to Sears’ already impressive resume, as he was also named one of the five finalists for the 2024 Bob Cousy Award by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing the nation’s top collegiate point guard.

The other finalists for the Wooden Award include:

– Johni Broome, Auburn
– RJ Davis, North Carolina
– Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
– Zach Edey, Purdue
– Kyle Filipowski, Duke
– DaRon Holmes II, Dayton
– Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
– Tyler Kolek, Marquette
– Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State
– Caleb Love, Arizona
– Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
– Tristen Newton, UConn
– Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
– Jamal Shead, Houston

Mark Sears’ inclusion among these elite players underscores his exceptional contributions to the Alabama Crimson Tide and solidifies his status as one of the nation’s top collegiate basketball talents.