Mark Christopher Sears Bio
Mark Christopher Sears is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks organization. Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Sears developed his game locally before becoming a highly decorated college player at both Ohio University and the University of Alabama. He went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft but signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and has continued his professional career in the Bucks system. Sears finished his college career as the second all-time leading scorer in Alabama program history and ranked 19th overall in Division I men’s basketball scoring.
Early Life and Background
Mark Christopher Sears was born on February 19, 2002, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He grew up in the Shoals region as the son of Chad and Lameka Sears. Sears attended Muscle Shoals High School where he established himself as a promising prospect during his junior year. In February 2019, he delivered a standout performance in the Class 6A Northwest Regional championship, recording 31 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in a 64-52 victory over Bessemer City High School.
Following his high school career at Muscle Shoals, Sears transferred to Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia for his senior year. At Hargrave, he averaged 14 points, three assists, and five rebounds per game while helping lead the team to the National Prep Championship Final Four with a 37-4 overall record. His strong performance at Hargrave Military Academy earned him recognition as a collegiate prospect, and he committed to playing basketball for Ohio University.
Path to Basketball
Sears began his college career at Ohio University in 2020, joining the Bobcats program. As a freshman, he came off the bench but saw increased minutes when starting point guard Jason Preston was sidelined with a leg injury. Sears averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, earning MAC All-Freshman Team honors. His development continued as he prepared to take over the starting point guard role following Preston’s departure to the NBA draft after the season.
During his sophomore season at Ohio in 2021-22, Sears worked extensively on his shooting in the offseason, attempting approximately 15,000 three-point shots to improve his perimeter game. On December 21, 2021, he scored 33 points in an 85-70 win over USC Upstate. He followed that with a career-high 37 points on March 21, 2022, in a College Basketball Invitational game against Abilene Christian. Sears was named to the First Team All-MAC after averaging 19.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. On March 30, 2022, he entered the transfer portal seeking a new opportunity.
Mark Christopher Sears Career
Ohio Bobcats Years (2020-2022)
Sears arrived at Ohio University as a three-star recruit and quickly demonstrated his potential despite coming off the bench during his freshman season. His ability to run an offense and score in bunches became evident as he adapted to the college game. The injury to Jason Preston created an unexpected opportunity that Sears capitalized on, showing coaches and scouts his capability to perform under pressure when called upon.
His sophomore season represented a breakthrough, as Sears established himself as one of the top scorers in the Mid-American Conference. The extensive work he put into his shooting during the offseason paid dividends, as he became a more consistent perimeter threat. His 37-point performance in the College Basketball Invitational showcased his ability to take over games offensively and demonstrated the scoring ceiling that made him attractive to bigger programs.
Alabama Crimson Tide Era (2022-2025)
On April 8, 2022, Sears announced his commitment to transfer to the University of Alabama, joining the Crimson Tide program. In his first season at Alabama during 2022-23, he averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He helped lead Alabama to both the SEC regular season and SEC Tournament titles, earning the program the number one overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide advanced to the Sweet 16, and Sears earned Second Team All-SEC honors. Following the season, he declared for the 2023 NBA draft before ultimately withdrawing and returning to school.
His second season with Alabama in 2023-24 proved to be a career-defining year. Sears averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, leading the team in scoring. In the NCAA Tournament West Regional final against Clemson, he scored 23 points including seven three-pointers to help Alabama advance to its first Final Four in program history. His performance earned him First Team All-SEC honors and Second Team All-America recognition. On May 29, 2024, he withdrew from the 2024 NBA draft to return for his final collegiate season.
For his senior season in 2024-25, Sears averaged 18.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, leading Alabama in both scoring and assists. In the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, he delivered a spectacular performance with 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting from three-point range against BYU, helping the Crimson Tide break the NCAA Tournament record for three-pointers in a game with 25. He finished the season on the First Team All-SEC and First Team All-America teams. Sears concluded his Alabama career as the program’s second all-time leading scorer and ended his college career as the 19th all-time leading scorer in Division I men’s basketball history.
Wisconsin Herd Era (2026-Present)
After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Sears signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks organization. He appeared in seven games with the Bucks during the 2025-26 season, averaging 3.1 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. On January 7, 2026, the Bucks waived Sears. Less than two weeks later, on January 17, 2026, he signed with the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks’ NBA G League affiliate, where he wears number 19. This assignment to the developmental league provides Sears with regular playing time to continue developing his professional skills while remaining within the Bucks organization.
Playing Style and Strengths
Sears plays the point guard position and stands 6 feet 0 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds. His game is characterized by his ability to score from the perimeter, having worked extensively on his three-point shooting throughout his career. He demonstrated significant improvement as a shooter during his time at Ohio, where he dedicated himself to thousands of shooting repetitions in the offseason. Sears is also capable of creating his own shot off the dribble and functioning as a primary ball handler. His collegiate trajectory showed consistent improvement in his ability to facilitate for teammates while remaining a scoring threat.
Notable Achievements and Milestones
Sears accumulated an impressive collection of honors during his collegiate career. He earned Consensus First Team All-American recognition in 2025 and Consensus Second Team All-American honors in 2024. He was a two-time First Team All-SEC selection in 2024 and 2025, along with Second Team All-SEC in 2023. At the conference level, he earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2022 following his sophomore season at Ohio, along with MAC All-Freshman Team recognition in 2021. His 34-point performance against BYU in the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 stands as one of the most memorable moments of his career, particularly given that it came on a record-setting night for three-point shooting. Sears also reached the Final Four with Alabama in 2024, becoming the first player in school history to accomplish that milestone.
Mark Christopher Sears Career Highlights
Sears compiled an impressive scoring record across his five collegiate seasons at Ohio and Alabama. His career totals include over 2,000 points scored across both programs, with his senior season at Alabama representing his most complete statistical performance. He finished his college career ranked 19th all-time in Division I men’s basketball scoring history, an accomplishment that places him among the most prolific scorers at the highest level of college basketball.
Alabama Crimson Tide Highlights
Sears’ time at Alabama produced some of his most significant career moments. The 2024 Final Four run marked the pinnacle of his college career, with his 23-point performance against Clemson in the Elite Eight serving as the catalyst for Alabama’s historic advancement. His senior season performance against BYU in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, where he scored 34 points including 10 three-pointers, further cemented his reputation as a clutch performer on the biggest stage. As Alabama’s second all-time leading scorer, Sears left an indelible mark on the program’s record books during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Ohio Bobcats Highlights
At Ohio, Sears established himself as a MAC Conference star during his two seasons with the Bobcats. His sophomore season in 2021-22 saw him average 19.6 points per game and earn First Team All-MAC honors. The 37-point performance against Abilene Christian in the College Basketball Invitational showcased his ability to take over games when needed. His freshman-year recognition on the MAC All-Freshman Team indicated his early potential, which he built upon throughout his collegiate career.
Mark Christopher Sears Family
Family Background
Sears grew up in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, as the son of Chad and Lameka Sears. His family roots in the Shoals region provided the foundation for his basketball development from an early age. The support from his parents throughout his journey from high school in Alabama through his collegiate career at two different universities and into his professional career has been a consistent element throughout his career path.
Personal Life
Sears has spoken publicly about his Christian faith, describing it as an important aspect of his life. He is known for his work ethic, having demonstrated his dedication to improvement through the extensive shooting work he put in during his college career. His journey through the transfer portal and eventual success at Alabama, including his initial draft declaration and return to school, reflected his commitment to pursuing his basketball dreams while making strategic decisions about his career path.