Alabama basketball’s Mark Sears stands out among a loaded list of individual talent in the SEC.
A poll of 14 experts who cover the conference for the USA TODAY Sports Network unanimously selected Sears as the league’s Preseason Player of the Year. The point guard averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4 assists per game last year while leading the Crimson Tide to its first Final Four appearance in program history. He returns this winter for an encore in his final season of college basketball.
Auburn’s Johni Broome was the only other unanimous first-team selection. He was also named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Alabama and Arkansas are tied with two All-SEC selections. Both Razorbacks on this list are transfers, with senior guard Johnell Davis tabbed as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
The Crimson Tide is the only team with a pair first-team players. There are zero freshmen on the list.
Here are the preseason All-SEC teams and individual awards as chosen by Sports Network’s SEC coverage team:
First team
G Mark Sears*, Alabama
G Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
G Zakai Ziegler, Tennessee
F Johni Broome*, Auburn
F Grant Nelson, Alabama
Second Team
G Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
G Johnell Davis, Arkansas
G Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky
F Jonas Aidoo, Arkansas
F Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Preseason Coach of the Year
Nate Oats, Alabama
Preseason Player of the Year
Mark Sears*, Alabama
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Johnell Davis, Arkansas
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Johni Broome, Auburn
* Unanimous selection
Poll participants: Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun; Ryan Black, Courier Journal; Anthony Catalina, Austin American-Statesman; Michael DiLullo, Daily Advertiser; Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsen Times; Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record; Sam Hutchens, Clarion Ledger; Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman; Lulu Kesin, Greenville News; Callum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune; Sam Sklar, Clarion Ledger; Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News; Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman; Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet Sports Network Preseason All-SEC basketball team for 2024-25
