Latest news with #MarkSears
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin basketball star impresses in key NBA draft combine statistic
Former Wisconsin basketball star impresses in key NBA draft combine statistic Final best shooters at NBA Combine drills (aggregate of all shots). Mark Sears was scorching. 83%Mark Sears 77% Chaz Lanier 73% Ryan Nembhard 73% PJ Haggerty 72% John Tonje 72% Milos Uzan 72% Cedric Coward 71% Walter Clayton 69%Koby Brea 69%Eric Dixon 69% Yaxel Lendeborg — Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2025 Former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje showcased his shooting prowess during the first day of the 2025 NBA draft combine. Tonje, who delivered a historic 2024-25 season leading the Badgers, displayed the efficiency that Wisconsin fans became accustomed to during his tenure in Madison. The North Omaha, Nebraska, native finished the first day of the event having made 72% of his shots, ranked fifth-best of all participants. Only Alabama's Mark Sears, Tennessee's Chaz Lanier, Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard and Memphis' PJ Haggerty accumulated a more efficient shooting percentage during the first day of action. Notably, Tonje was one of eight players to shoot at least 70% during the first day of drills, per ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony. While reflective of only the combine's first day, the mark could prove noteworthy for Tonje's draft stock. The 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist was recently projected to fall to No. 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks. An impressive performance at the combine could certainly alter his position on draft boards ahead of the June 25 event. Tonje's ceiling makes him an appealing second-round prospect, and his ability to impact the game from both inside and beyond the arc could transfer to the NBA level. Tonje's most likely route to a regular roster spot would be to become a reliable two-way bench asset, a luxury for any team in the draft's second round. The UW star averaged just under 20 points per appearance in 2024-25 while shooting 46.5% from the floor, 38.8% from outside and 90.9% from the foul line. A 37-point outing against BYU in the NCAA Tournament, 32-point performance against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament and 41-tally performance against Arizona in November showcased his offensive capabilities, something scouts may look towards when evaluating his position as a professional. Tonje's status in the combine will be something to monitor throughout the coming days. While projected lottery picks may not have much to prove, players in Tonje's bubble can still bolster their standing. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Makes Top 5 For Elite Transfer
Alabama Crimson Tide basketball suffered a brutal ending to their 2024-25 campaign being dominated by the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. Now the Tide are moving on without some of their stars, including star guard Mark Sears, who shattered records during their scoring onslaught against BYU. Advertisement While Sears is hard to replace, Nate Oats and Alabama have been going after one of the top transfers in the country. Former Washington State guard Cedric Coward, ranked as a top 20 player in the transfer portal, would do just that. Coward has announced his top five schools, and Alabama has made the cut. Alabama head coach Nate Oats.© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Among Alabama as his final five schools is Duke, Florida, Kansas, and Washington. It is going to be a battle until the finish for these schools looking for the talents of Coward. While he only played in six games this past season due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him before December, Coward averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Advertisement He has entered his name in the 2025 NBA Draft to feel out the process and see if that is a possibility, however is very likely to remain in school. Alabama currently sits at the No. 8 ranked recruiting class in the country according to On3, and the addition of Coward could have them cracking the top five. Six total four-stars, including three transfers, sets up the Alabama squad to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The coming days and weeks will be vital for Coward's future in college basketball, and the Crimson Tide are hopeful that he will choose to spend his next season in Tuscaloosa. Related: Alabama's Labaron Philon Makes Major Career Decision
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama leads SEC basketball teams in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings for 2025-26
Alabama leads SEC basketball teams in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings for 2025-26 Will 2026 finally be the year Alabama basketball cuts down the nets and has its true "One Shining Moment" under head coach Nate Oats? The Crimson Tide should certainly have the talent to compete and make another deep NCAA Tournament run in search of their first men's basketball championship in program history. While Alabama loses major contributors and senior leadership with top-scoring guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson having graduated (ditto for Chris Youngblood and Clifford Omoruyi), Oats has added several marquee names through the transfer portal already this offseason. Those names include 7-foot center Noah Williamson from Bucknell, the Patriot League Player of the Year (17.6 PPG, 7.6 REB), starting forward Taylor Bol Bowen from Florida State, and Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea, a former 5-star recruit and Top 10 national player in the 2024 recruiting class. Several key players from Alabama's 2024-25 roster -- led by Aden Holloway and followed by Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette and forward Aiden Sherrell -- have already announced their returns. Still up in the air are Labaron Philon, who has been a projected first-round NBA Draft pick this season, and forwards Jarin Stevenson and Derrion Reid. On Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports' college basketball panel of experts Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus unveiled their way-too-early rankings for the 2025-26 season. The group ranked Alabama at No. 6 on their early Top 25 list, one spot below No. 5 BYU, who the Tide vanquished 113-88 in the Sweet 16, and one spot ahead of No. 7 Texas Tech. The Crimson Tide are the highest-ranked SEC team in USA TODAY Sports' initial look at the 2025-26 season. Myerberg wrote of Alabama: "Losing catalyst Mark Sears puts pressure on the backcourt to replicate his scoring production and leadership. Aden Holloway should take up much of that slack along with Miami (Fla.) transfer Jalil Bethea. A bonus would be the return of guard Lebaron Philon and make the Crimson Tide one of the SEC favorites. Inside additions Noah Williamson (Bucknell) and Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) should take on big roles." Alabama edged the Florida Gators in USA TODAY Sports' rankings. Florida cut down the nets in San Antonio Monday night with a 65-63 come-from-behind victory over the Houston Cougars to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Florida was No. 8 in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings. The next closest SEC team behind coach Todd Golden's Gators were John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 12. The Kentucky Wildcats were ranked No. 16, with the Tennessee Volunteers at No. 18, and the Auburn Tigers at No. 24, giving the SEC five teams on USA TODAY Sports' list. Keep up with Alabama's busy offseason by visiting Roll Tide Wire's 2025-26 roster and transfer portal tracker. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama basketball 2025-26 way-too-early roster outlook: Projected lineup, depth chart
Alabama basketball 2025-26 way-too-early roster outlook: Projected lineup, depth chart This past Saturday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2024-25 basketball season officially came to an end with a loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Falling just one win short of the program's second consecutive, as well as ever, Final Four appearance, Alabama and head coach Nate Oats now shift their focus ahead toward what is shaping up to be yet another phenomenal season in 2025-26. However, it will certainly come with a few question marks, as Alabama's roster is set to undergo multiple significant changes this offseason that include at-least four starters moving on, while the fifth has a decision to make. A few others could also have decisions to make as well, some of which could end up going to the NBA or return for next season. Here is Alabama's way-too-early 2025-26 basketball roster outlook, which is current as of Monday, March 31. Alabama Basketball 2025-26 Roster Outlook - Departures Mark Sears, Guard - Graduation - Graduation Grant Nelson, Forward - Graduation - Graduation Chris Youngblood, Guard - Graduation - Graduation Clifford Omoruyi, Center - Graduation - Graduation Naas Cunningham, Forward - Transfer Portal - Transfer Portal Max Scharnowski, Forward - Graduation As mentioned previously, Alabama will have to replace a significant amount of production, headlined by four starters who are out of eligibility in Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Chris Youngblood, and Clifford Omoruyi, as well as one player via the transfer portal so far in redshirt forward Naas Cunningham. Easily the biggest of that group is a three-year starter at point guard in the All-American Sears, but Nelson is also a significant loss as well, as the former North Dakota State transfer started two years at Alabama, and was a key factor in the Crimson Tide's success during March. Alabama Basketball 2025-26 Roster Outlook - Decisions to Make Labaron Philon, Guard - Sophomore - Sophomore Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Guard - Graduate Student Two of the biggest decisions to watch for this offseason for Alabama come from a pair of guards in Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., the former of which is a potential first round pick in the 2025 NBA draft. As for Wrightsell, the graduate student guard missed a majority of the season due to an injury, and could potentially return next year with a medical redshirt. Alabama Basketball 2025-26 Roster Outlook - Set to Return Aden Holloway, Guard - Junior - Junior Mouhamed Dioubate, Forward - Junior - Junior Jarin Stevenson, Forward - Junior - Junior Aiden Sherrell, Forward - Sophomore - Sophomore Derrion Reid, Forward - Sophomore - Sophomore Houston Mallette, Guard - Graduate Student While each of these names could also have decisions to make, it feels likely that this could be the core that will be back for Alabama next season, headlined by guard Aden Holloway coming off a season in which he averaged 11.4 points per game, while Mouhamed Dioubate would also be a prominent name. Should they return, both of Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell would likely make big jumps as sophomores, while Houston Mallette could play a sizable role after missing most of this past season. Alabama Basketball 2025-26 Roster Outlook - Incoming Additions London Jemison, Forward - Freshman - Freshman Davion Hannah, Guard - Freshman - Freshman Amari Allen, Forward - Freshman - Freshman Noah Williamson, Center - Transfer Portal Something that is likely to change, Alabama is set to add four players at the moment, three of which come from one of the nation's top classes that features a pair of Top 50 prospects in London Jemison and Davion Hannah. Alabama has also recently landed a commitment from through the transfer portal from center Noah Williamson, the 2024-25 Patriot League Player of the Year. Alabama Crimson Tide 2025-26 Projected Starting Lineup, Depth Chart PG: Aden Holloway Aden Holloway SG: Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Houston Mallette, Davion Hannah Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Houston Mallette, Davion Hannah SF: Derrion Reid, London Jemison, Amari Allen Derrion Reid, London Jemison, Amari Allen PF: Mouhamed Dioubate, Jarin Stevenson Mouhamed Dioubate, Jarin Stevenson C: Noah Williamson, Aiden Sherrell At the time of writing, this likely what Alabama's projected 2025-26 starting lineup, as well as depth chart, look like next season. This is likely to change however as the question marks surrounding Alabama's roster are answered in the coming weeks.
Washington Post
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Alabama makes March Madness record 25 3s and romps past BYU 113-88 to reach Elite Eight
NEWARK, N.J. — Alabama broke the 35-year-old March Madness record for 3-pointers with 25 and Mark Sears scored 30 of his 34 points on 3s, a relentless long-range spree that ushered the second-seeded Crimson Tide past BYU 113-88 on Thursday night in an NCAA Tournament East Region semifinal. Alabama reached the Elite Eight in consecutive years for the first time in program history.
