Mark Sears’ journey from Muscle Shoals to college basketball stardom has now reached the professional ranks. The former Alabama Crimson Tide standout guard has signed a two-way NBA contract with the Milwaukee Bucks following the 2025 NBA Draft, where he surprisingly went undrafted. Alabama officially confirmed the signing, marking the next chapter in the All-American’s remarkable basketball career.
Sears’ legacy at Alabama is already secure. Over three incredible seasons with the Crimson Tide, he became a defining figure of the Nate Oats era, helping elevate the program to national prominence. He led Alabama to its historic Final Four appearance in 2024 and followed it up with another deep run to the Elite Eight in 2025. He was also a crucial part of the 2022-23 squad that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16.
A native of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Sears began his collegiate career at Ohio University before transferring to Alabama, where he returned to his home state and blossomed into a superstar. His scoring numbers are among the best ever in Division I history. With 2,841 total career points, Sears ranks 19th all-time in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history. At Alabama, he recorded 1,950 points — the second-most in school history.
One of the defining moments of Sears’ college career came during the 2025 NCAA Tournament, when he exploded for 10 three-pointers against BYU in the Sweet 16 — setting a new program record for most triples in an NCAA Tournament game. He tallied 690 points in the 2024-25 season alone, the fourth-highest single-season scoring mark in Crimson Tide history.
Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats didn’t hesitate when asked about Sears’ place in Alabama basketball history after their Elite Eight loss to Duke.
“You’ve got to put him up there with the greats,” Oats said, placing Sears in the same conversation as Alabama legends like Reggie King, Robert Horry, Erwin Dudley, and Collin Sexton.
Sears’ combination of leadership, shooting ability, and resilience made him a fan favorite and a key figure in Alabama’s most successful run in modern basketball history. Now, he’ll look to make his mark at the next level with the Milwaukee Bucks — a journey that’s only just beginning for one of Alabama’s all-time greats.
