The honor of national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 16 goes to a standout senior from the University of Alabama:
Mark Sears, Alabama
Hailing from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, senior guard Mark Sears has distinguished himself with impressive performances that have made him only the second player in two decades to achieve back-to-back 30-point games against ranked teams. Last week, the second-ranked Crimson Tide played two crucial games, with Sears at the center of both performances. In a nail-biting 110-98 defeat at No. 14 Missouri, Sears hit the mark with 35 points, matching a career high and making five successful three-pointers. He also contributed five assists to his team’s efforts. However, Sears didn’t rest on his laurels; just three days later, he put up an impressive 30 points, gathered four rebounds, and distributed four assists in a dominant 96-83 win over No. 17 Kentucky.
With an average of 18.9 points per game, Sears ranks second in scoring within the Southeastern Conference (SEC). As a preseason All-American, his contributions don’t stop on the scoreboard alone; he maintains an average of 4.8 assists per game for the nation’s top-scoring team. The Crimson Tide, tied with Florida and just two games behind top-ranked Auburn, faced No. 24 Mississippi State last Tuesday. Their regular season wraps up with a visit to No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday, followed by hosting the No. 3 Gators before an eagerly anticipated clash with Auburn on the horizon for March 8.
Runner-up in this recognition is Chaz Lanier from Tennessee, who also had a standout performance. The senior guard from Nashville scored 30 points and secured five rebounds, leading his fifth-ranked Volunteers to a 77-69 triumph over then-No. 7 Texas A&M. This stellar performance on the road enabled Lanier to become the second SEC player in two decades to secure at least 30 points in such a victory against a top-10 team. His shooting prowess was evident as he made 8 out of 13 from beyond the arc, tying for the second most three-pointers in a single game in the history of the school.
Other notable mentions include Johni Broome from Auburn, Cooper Flagg representing Duke, and Barry Dunning Jr. of South Alabama.
One player to watch is Izaiyah Nelson from Arkansas State. The junior achieved a double-double with 16 points and 23 rebounds in a close 60-56 loss to South Alabama, tallying the second-most rebounds in a Division I game this season. Nelson followed this up with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 95-70 triumph over Louisiana-Monroe. His consistent performances have led the Red Wolves (20-9, 11-5 Sun Belt) to remain just one game behind James Madison in their conference. They are set to play Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe this week.
