Mark Sears has been the catalyst of Alabama's Final Four run, and it's helping his NBA Draft stock.
The senior guard improved tremendously in his second season with the Crimson Tide, averaging a career-best 21.5 points and 4.1 assists per game. He's scoring more efficiently from all three levels of the floor compared to last year when he only posted 12.5 points per game in his first season with the high-major program
After exploding for 23 points and seven 3-pointers in the Elite Eight against Clemson, Sears is starting to draw some attention at the NBA level.
As the Alabama star prepares to face off against an elite UConn defense with a trip to the national championship on the line, take a look at how he projects as an NBA prospect.
MORE: Ranking Final Four teams in 2024 NCAA Tournament from UConn to Alabama
Mark Sears stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 21.5 |
| Rebounds | 4.1 |
| Assists | 4.1 |
| Steals | 1.7 |
| Blocks | 0.1 |
| Field goal % | 50.4 |
| 3-point % | 43.4 |
| Free throw % | 85.9 |
Mark Sears strengths
Sears might be undersized as a 6-1 guard, but his sturdy 185-pound build allows him to hold his own against bigger matchups.
Sears has a quick first step to attack closeouts, but his steady body control is why he has been so effective on drives. The 22-year-old guard is constantly changing his pace off the bounce. He also does a great job of slowing down when he gets into the paint, finishing through and around traffic.
He can play through contact because of his strength and has soft touch around the rim to make up for what he lacks in height and athleticism.
Three-point shooting is Sears' best skill. After converting 36.2 percent of his 3s from his freshman to junior year, Sears is shooting 43.4 percent as a senior on nearly six attempts per game.
He is a solid shooter off the dribble, but Sears has been a sniper off of dribble handoffs. He has shot the ball with remarkable confidence all season, proving to be a tough-shot maker.
Sears is a patient playmaker, making the correct and simple reads as a passer.
His overall offensive package led him to score at least 20 points in all but two of Alabama's SEC games.
MORE: Grant Nelson helped his NBA Draft stock in Alabama's Sweet 16 win over UNC
Mark Sears weaknesses
The biggest thing working against Sears as a potential NBA player is his size. By a rough count, there are only 14 players in the league today who play consistent minutes at 6-1 or shorter.
At that size, you have to be more than just a prolific shooter, scorer, or playmaker. You have to be able to hold your own on the defensive end. Even though Sears competes on defense, he'll be a constant target on switches at the next level. Can his strength and quickness hold up against bigger, more athletic matchups?
Sears has a swift first step, but he is not a lightning-fast or explosive athlete. He plays below the rim, and even though he has figured out how to finish at the college level, doing so against defensive anchors in the NBA is a different story.
Sears' Final Four matchup against UConn doubles as a tough test in front of NBA scouts. Can he continue to light it up on offense despite being marked by bigger guards like Stephon Castle (6-6) and Tristan Newton (6-5)?
If he continues to play the way he has been, don't be surprised to see NBA teams ignore his size in hopes of landing a diamond-in-the-rough sleeper.
MORE: Why UConn's Donovan Clingan is a projected lottery pick in 2024
Mark Sears NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Second-round pick
Despite being a 21.2 point-per-game scorer and All-American, Sears wasn't getting much 2024 NBA Draft attention before the NCAA Tournament.
After averaging 24.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals on blistering .508/.447/.842 shooting splits to lead Alabama to the Final Four, the senior guard is worth a look in the second round.
He may not have NBA size, but he is a pro-level shot-maker who lives for big moments and plays with a competitive intensity. After this March Madness run, Sears will be hard to ignore when the draft board thins out.
Mark Sears NBA player comparison
Plays like: Frank Mason III
Jalen Brunson is becoming a popular comparison for Sears, and it's easy to see why as two undersized lefty guards who can create off the dribble and finish at the rim. But Brunson's midrange game and how he scores in and around the paint for his size is almost impossible to replicate. Still, the comparison will surely help Sears' draft stock.
To get another name in the mix, how about Mason, a former All-American and National Player of the Year for Kansas?
Sears (6-1) and Mason (5-11) are undersized and neither are explosive athletes; yet, they both found a way to become easy 20-point-per-game scorers as seniors. They both rely on the 3-ball and are crafty below-the-rim finishers.
Mason was a second-round pick in 2017 and even though he never found the right situation in the NBA, he did become a G League MVP in 2020.
