SEC basketball media day: Alabama HC Nate Oats to be accompanied by two players
Nate Oats will feature at the upcoming SEC Media Day event alongside two talented guards from his Crimson Tide roster. Those guards are Mark Sears and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., both of whom are entering their final season of eligibility in men's college basketball.
The event will take place at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook, Alabama, on Tuesday.
Sears was one of the Crimson Tide's standout players in 2023-24. He set single-season program records for points (797) and free throws made (198). He also became the first Division I player to record 795 points, 150 rebounds, 145 assists and 95 3-pointers in a single season in 31 years.
Sears averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals in his senior season, and earned consensus second-team All-American honors.
After three solid seasons at Cal State Fullerton, Wrightsell transferred to Alabama for the 2023-24 season. Although his debut season with the Crimson Tide was riddled with injuries, he was the team's top shooter from 3-point range, ranking fourth on the program's all-time list in 3-point shot percentage (44.7%).
Wrightsell averaged 8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg and 1.1 spg in 31 games, and the Crimson Tide won all 10 games in which he scored 10 points or more.
Nate Oats led Crimson Tide to their best finish in program history
Nate Oats has been transformational to the Crimson Tide's fortunes since taking over the program in 2019. After leading the Crimson Tide to the Sweet 16 twice, Oats and the Crimson Tide made the Final Four for the first time in program history last season.
The Crimson Tide's dream run came to an end at the hands of the UConn Huskies, who went on to defend their national championship by beating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60 in the final.
Oats and the Crimson Tide have made incredible efforts to achieve more success in the 2024-25 season. Their 2024 signing class ranks third in the country per On3, headlined by four top-50 prospects and four-star picks from the transfer portal, including Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi and Auburn's Adel Holloway.
The Crimson Tide will begin the 2024-25 season with a home game against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Nov. 4.