Alabama men’s basketball earned two players on the preseason All-SEC second team, as voted on by league coaches. Veteran guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson were recognized on Thursday afternoon.

Tennessee led the way with three selections among the 16 players named. The Vols and the Tide joined Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas A&M as the other schools to have multiple honorees.

Sears has sat out in both of Alabama’s exhibition losses versus TCU and at Wake Forest. He’s coming off a season averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

“One kid from Alabama. He’s been great for us. Plays hard,” UA head coach Nate Oats said of Sears. “Can really shoot it. He tested the draft. Worked out for some NBA teams. Got some feedback. We’re trying to work with him on what he would need to do to make it at that level.”

Nelson, a North Dakota State transfer at 6-foot-11, scored 11 points with two 3-pointers last Sunday in an 88-80 loss. Oats said Nelson was a key target in the portal that Oats said “should be playing in the NBA” in 2024.

During SEC Media Days in October, Nelson was named to the first team by the media. Sears made the second team and the Tide was picked to finish fifth overall.

No. 24 Alabama opens the season on Monday night against Morehead State in Coleman Coliseum.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].