Alabama guard Mark Sears is returning for the 2023-24 basketball season after withdrawing from the NBA draft.

Sears averaged 12.5 points per game last season, his first with the Crimson Tide after transferring from Ohio. The Muscle Shoals native was among five Alabama players who declared for the NBA draft, but is the only one thus far to pull out and return to school.

“Bama Nation, I’m back,” Sears said in a video posted to Twitter.

Though not a major surprise, Sears’ return is a boost for an Alabama team that had undergone major roster turnover since the end of the season. In addition to four others — guards Brandon Miller and Jahvon Quinerly, center Charles Bediako and forward Noah Clowney — who declared for the draft, the Crimson Tide also lost guards Jaden Bradley (Arizona) and Nimari Burnett (Michigan) to the transfer portal.

Wednesday is the deadline for players to withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to college, provided they have not signed with an agent. Miller, Clowney and Bediako are all expected to stay in the draft and turn pro, though Quinerly could still pull out.