Mark Sears 'all in on this draft process' despite potential to return to college for another year

Former Alabama and Ohio guard Mark Sears seems as committed as ever to trying his luck as a professional as he enters the 2024 NBA Draft process. Recent comments from Sears indicate that a return to Alabama is virtually off the table.

Sears, when asked about potentially returning to college, said he’s locked in on the draft process. Sears has another year of eligibility to potentially use.

“All in on this draft process,” Sears said, according to SI’s Kevein Sweeney, when asked about his decision.

Sears also shared that a team making him a promise that he’d be their selection in the 1st round or in the first half of the 2nd round, that would affect his decision, and that he could potentially be in line to make more money returning to college and playing at Alabama on potentially the preseason No. 1 team.

Sears entered the draft after a star-turned season at Alabama, retaining his college eligibility.

He averaged 21.5 points for the Crimson Tide this season, tallying 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as well while leading Alabama to its first Final Four in program history.

“I would like to think God for blessing me with an amazing gift that has allowed me to play the game that I love, basketball,” he wrote. “His blessing has provided innumerable opportunities and I am truly appreciative of God’s blessings, lessons and provisions along the way.

“After much consideration and deliberation, I have decided to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility.”

Sears’ official combine measurements came in recently

The NBA has released measurements for Sears, who is one of the smaller prospects in the draft.

Mark Sears has measured in at 5’10.25″ without shoes on, per the NBA. His height was listed at 6’1″ while playing at Alabama.

Sears averaged 21.5 points per game for the Crimson Tide this season, tallying 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, as well. He led Alabama to its first Final Four in program history this past season.

The Ohio transfer has played four seasons of college basketball. In 133 total games, including 114 starts, he has logged 2,149 total points, 561 rebounds and 467 assists.

Sears’ hand length measured in at 8 inches. His hand width is 8.5 inches. He also has a 6’2″ wingspan and a standing reach of 7’8″.

It will be interesting to see how the measurements impact Sears’ draft stock as he continues to go through the process.

As a senior, Sears logged career-high averages nearly across the board during his second season with Alabama — and only got better as the season progressed. During Alabama’s Final Four, Sears averaged an elevated 24.2 points. He logged 20 or more points on 22 separate occasions, which included 30-point performances four different times.

He logged a career-high of 35 points on two separate occasions. The most recent happened this past season in a 92-86 loss to Purdue on Dec. 9. The first occurred during his final game at Ohio, a 91-86 loss to Abilene Christian in the second round of the CBI.

His efforts awarded him consensus second-team All-American and First-team All-SEC team honors following the season. He was a finalist for SEC Player of the Year as well, which was eventually awarded to Tennessee‘s Dalton Knecht.