BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — This season, Alabama is projected to be the frontrunner for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) men’s basketball championship, with Mark Sears, designated as the preseason player of the year, leading the charge.

The Crimson Tide, holding the second spot in the AP’s preseason Top 25 rankings, are basking in the glory of their recent achievement, which marked the program’s inaugural journey to the Final Four.

On Monday, the SEC unveiled its preseason All-SEC teams and predictions, with Alabama at the forefront. Following closely in the standings are No. 11 Auburn, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 16 Arkansas, No. 13 Texas A&M, and No. 21 Florida. Among the new additions to the conference, Texas and Oklahoma were slated to finish seventh and fifteenth, respectively.

The first-team All-SEC selections for the preseason include Mark Sears from Alabama, Johni Broome a forward from Auburn, Walter Clayton Jr. a guard from Florida, Zakai Zeigler a guard from Tennessee, and Wade Taylor IV a guard from Texas A&M.

Additionally, Broome, Zeigler, Taylor, and Asa Newell from Georgia each garnered votes for player of the year honors, showcasing the competitiveness of the upcoming season.