Alabama guard Mark Sears could have hosted a basketball camp in any gym in Alabama, but he wanted to return to his roots inside Muscle Shoals Middle School.
“I thought this was the right time (to host the camp), especially coming off the Final Four and the NBA draft combine,” Sears said. “I wanted the kids to have fun and play the game of basketball and learn the game the right way. I wanted to come back to the gym where I played middle school and high school basketball.”
Sears’ first camp, held on August 10, was a rousing success as over 200 kids participated in two three-hour sessions. Participants received individual instructions from former players and coaches in an interactive format stressing sportsmanship and individual skills.
“I remember when I was in their shoes,” Sears said. “I know what it’s like to feel like they do today. It means a lot to me to represent the state of Alabama and the University of Alabama. It gives me a lot of emphasis to work out on days that I don’t feel like working out. I don’t want to let people down.”
Sears averaged over 21 points per game last season for Alabama and shot a sizzling 43% from behind the 3-point arc. He has scored 1,249 points in two years for the Crimson Tide, and, including two years at Ohio University, Sears now has scored 2,135 career points.
After advancing to the Final Four last season, the return of Sears and Jarin Stevenson has moved Alabama into the discussion to be preseason No. 1. Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats also landed Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi, Chris Youngblood from South Florida, and former Auburn guard Aden Holloway. The return of forward Grant Nelson and sharp-shooter Latrell Wrightsell will also bolster the lineup.
Even though the Tide reached the Final Four last season, the team struggled at times. In the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Alabama lost in the first round to Florida 102-88 and seemed to have little or no momentum entering the NCAA tournament.
However, the team refocused and won four consecutive games, beating College of Charleston (109-96), Grand Canyon (72-61), North Carolina (89-87), and Clemson (89-82) before losing to eventual national champion UConn (86-72).
Sears explained how the team and coaches regrouped to go on an inspiring Final Four run.
“The next day after the loss to Florida, Coach Oats told us that the only team to advance to the Elite Eight was Antoine Pettway’s team (in 2004)” Sears said. “On Sunday, we watched the NCAA Selection Show and saw where we were ranked as the fourth seed. We liked our chances with North Carolina being the one seed. We had one vision, we dug down deep and showed our true character.”
In what may be the most anticipated upcoming season in Alabama basketball history, Sears is confident that the team and staff will handle the expectations.
“We’re going to be the real deal, but we can’t let all that ‘rat poison’ impact the team. We made the Final Four. Now it’s time to take it another step,” Sears said. TG