National outlets project chances of Mark Sears, Grant Nelson being taken in 2025 NBA Draft
The Alabama Crimson Tide have sent six players to the next level via the NBA Draft under Nate Oats since his abbreviated first season as head coach in 2019-20.
Former Crimson Tide guard Kira Lewis Jr. was the first player of the Oats era to be drafted when the New Orleans Pelicans selected him with the No. 13 overall pick in the first round in 2020.
Josh Primo followed Lewis as a first-round pick in 2021, going No. 12 overall to the San Antonio Spurs. That same year, Herbert Jones became the second Alabama player drafted by the Pelicans in as many years (second round, No. 35 overall).
J.D. Davison was a late pick in 2022 and was recently given a standard two-year contract by the Boston Celtics after winning G League MVP honors. In 2023, Brandon Miller tied Antonio McDyess as the highest-drafted player (No. 2 overall) in Alabama basketball history. Noah Clowney followed Miller in the first round at No. 21 overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
With Labaron Philon announcing in late May that he was withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to Alabama for his sophomore season, it leaves the number of Crimson Tide players available in this year's class at three: guard Mark Sears, forward Grant Nelson and big man Clifford Omoruyi. The three joined Philon players invited to this year's draft combine in Chicago.
The NBA Draft will consist of two rounds with 59 total selections. Duke guard Cooper Flagg is the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. The draft will begin Wednesday, June 25 from Barclay's Center in Brooklyn and will be televised on ABC and ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
Here's where the national media outlets have Sears, Nelson and Omoruyi ranked among the top 100 draft-eligible prospects, as well as any mock drafts, on the final weekend before the 2025 NBA Draft.
USA TODAY Sports analyst projects two Alabama players will be taken in 2025 NBA draft
In terms of an actual mock draft, For The Win's Bryan Kalbrosky lists Sears and Nelson as second-round picks in his latest projections. Kalbrosky sees Sears going 45th overall to the Chicago Bulls, with Nelson being the final player taken at No. 59 by the Houston Rockets.
Yahoo Sports NBA Draft analyst has Mark Sears as second-round pickup
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor has Sears as the only Alabama player on his NBA Draft big board. O'Connor's latest mock draft has Sears being selected with the 57th overall pick (third from last) by the Orlando Magic.
O'Connor describes Sears as a "clutch college star who rains shots from everywhere behind an advanced array of ball-handling moves." Sears' downside, at least according to O'Connor, is that he was "a pint-sized leader, and so often those players get torched on defense at the next level, shrinking them to bit-player status."
Still, the Yahoo Sports analyst argued in favor of Sears going to the Magic:
"Why not? Sears might be tiny, but the Magic could surround him with length and versatility."
ESPN ranking of Alabama players eligible for NBA Draft
ESPN unveiled its final big board rankings of the top 100 draft prospects on Saturday. NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony ranks the three Alabama players in this order:
CBS Sports has Grant Nelson as Alabama's highest-ranked NBA draft prospect in 2025
CBS Sports' full draft prospect rankings favor Nelson over Sears as the Alabama player most likely to be drafted Wednesday night.
The Athletic
The Athletic's Sam Vecente (subscription required) breaks down the top 100 draft prospects into eight tiers. Tier 1 players are defined as "All-NBA" talent, while Tier 8 players are listed as "two-ways, stashes and exhibit 10s." An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum salary agreement that isn't guarantee.
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