The talent pool this upcoming season in college basketball is as deep as ever.
One reason, ESPN cites, is NIL opportunities, which has enabled more All-American-type players to return to the sport instead of opting to go pro. With that being said – and in anticipation of the college basketball season starting – ESPN ranked the top 100 players in the country.
Alabama’s Mark Sears checks in at No. 3 on the list.
Per the ranking:
“Sears had a breakout campaign last season in Tuscaloosa, going from 12.5 points on average in a complementary role to 21.5 points (43.6% from 3) as one of the best guards in college basketball. He somehow took his game to another level in the NCAA tournament, including notching 30 points in the first round against Charleston and 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in the second round against Grand Canyon.”
North Carolina’s RJ Davis made the list at No. 2, while Duke’s Cooper Flagg takes the top spot.
Check out the list at ESPN.com.
Sears was a near-unanimous selection for The Associated Press preseason All-America men’s basketball team released Monday.
The point guard earned all but one vote from a 55-person national media panel.
Sears was key in the Tide’s first trip to the Final Four a year ago, leading one of college basketball’s highest-scoring teams.
The 6-foot-1 guard was named a second-team AP All-America after averaging 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was the first Division I player in 31 years to have 795 points, 150 rebounds, 145 assists and 95 three-pointers in a single season while breaking the Alabama single-season record with 26 games with at least 20 points.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
