{"id":241966,"date":"2025-05-14T19:13:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T19:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alabama\/happy-gump-day-mark-sears-and-grant-nelson-turn-heads-at-the-combine-boogie-nights-for-bama\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T19:13:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T19:13:25","slug":"happy-gump-day-mark-sears-and-grant-nelson-turn-heads-at-the-combine-boogie-nights-for-bama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=241966","title":{"rendered":"Happy Gump Day: Mark Sears and Grant Nelson turn heads at the Combine; Boogie nights for \u2018Bama?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Happy Gump Day. Let\u2019s try to have some good vibes only, shall we? News is a bit sparse, so we\u2019ll just focus on some snippets of good Gump. <\/p>\n

First up is the NBA Combine, where Alabama\u2019s super seniors turned heads in the best kinds of way.<\/p>\n

Mark Sears stole the headlines, as he was red-hot in the Combine shooting drills, and finished as the best overall shooter in a class that featured the likes of Koby Brea, Walter Clayton and other elite snipers. <\/p>\n

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Final best shooters at NBA Combine drills (aggregate of all shots). Mark Sears was scorching.<\/p>\n

83%Mark Sears
77% Chaz Lanier
73% Ryan Nembhard
73% PJ Haggerty
72% John Tonje
72% Milos Uzan
72% Cedric Coward
71% Walter Clayton
69%Koby Brea
69%Eric Dixon
69% Yaxel Lendeborg pic.twitter.com\/eOABIgtO7E<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Mark Sears just put on a shooting exhibition here at the Combine. Shot 26-for-30 on off-dribble mid-range pull-ups (tied for first); 21-for-25 on spot-up 3s (first); 16-for-25 in the 3-point star drill (tied for 11th); 25-for-27 in the side-mid-side 3-point drill (first).<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

No one said Sears couldn\u2019t shoot. Mark plainly can (do I need to remind you of the BYU game<\/a>), but his size (officially 5\u201910\u201d 3\/4) is going to put him on the margins. Still, for a player that had <\/em>to have a great afternoon, he did in Day One. How Sears plays in scrimmages and handles his 30s (GM meetings) will probably determine whether this polarizing prospect is worth a second-round pick, or if he\u2019s going to have to prove himself once again, and claw his way into the league. <\/p>\n

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The other story of the Combine was the unreal athleticism shown by Grant Nelson. The Dakota Durant set a combine record in his shuttle, and really got everyone\u2019s attention to remind them of his high level of play, diversified skill set, and value as a bench contributor. <\/p>\n

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Alabama\u2019s Grant Nelson just blew the field out of the water with his shuttle run.<\/p>\n

Notched an unofficial 2.58 second mark, which would be the fastest time in the history of the NBA Draft Combine if it holds.<\/p>\n

The previous best time was 2.64 seconds by Malcolm Brogdon in 2016. pic.twitter.com\/Qaelur1fiK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) May 13, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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6\u201911 Grant Nelson is one of the most skilled players in the 2025 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Nelson had a strong season for Alabama where he averaged 12\/8\/2 and shot 52% from the field, he also played a key role in them making the Elite 8.<\/p>\n

Nelson is one of the best athletes and finishers in the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/tiIZE0XfHT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KJ (@KJ__Hoops) April 28, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Grant Nelson has been monitored in the draft community for a while. He popped as a mid-major darling and had his moments at Alabama. He’s athletic and can handle the ball a bit. If the shot ever comes around, he’ll be a real addition but if not, he’ll be a solid big. #nbadraft<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/i0Ajn456TT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brian Taylor (@Weridos1221) May 10, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

And, unlike Philon and Sears, whose heights had been greatly exaggerated, Nelson really is just a smidge under 6\u201911\u201d. That kind of athleticism, ability to create near the rim as a finisher, take bigs off the dribble and cfind his own shot, and rebounding are a very potent mix. <\/p>\n

Of the two marginal \u2018Bama players at the Combine, I think that Nelson has a stronger chance of being drafted outright than does Sears. And apparently I\u2019m not alone. Grant is drawing interest from the Lakers (among others). <\/p>\n

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That leaves Philon, the slam-dunk First Rounder that \u2018Bama has sent to the Combine this week. Unlike Sears and Grant, Labaron didn\u2019t participate in scrimmages. He doesn\u2019t need to. He\u2019s already drawing interest from the Sixers, Nets, and Hornets. <\/p>\n

Like Mark, Alabama had inflated his measureables a good bit. Philon is 6\u20192\u201d 3\/4, not the 6\u20194\u201d as touted. But that\u2019s still plenty good size for a point man. <\/p>\n