Choosing College Over the Draft
Jeremy Fears Jr., the Michigan State point guard who earned first‑team All‑Big Ten and second‑team All‑American honors, announced that he will forgo the NBA Draft and return for a redshirt junior season. The decision follows a turbulent freshman year cut short by a gunshot wound to his upper left thigh in December 2023, a setback that forced him to miss the remainder of that campaign.
Since his recovery, Fears has emerged as a dynamic scorer and playmaker, leading the Spartans in both assists and points. In a recent Moneyball Pro‑Am showcase on June 23, 2026, he erupted for 26 points, highlighted by a two‑handed alley‑oop dunk that underscored his regained leaping ability. His 9.4 assists per game top the nation, and his 3.86 assist‑to‑turnover ratio ranks fourth, while he sits atop the school’s single‑season assist list with 328.
Eight NBA franchises conducted workouts with him, offering encouraging feedback, yet Fears elected to remain in East Lansing, motivated by the chance to help Michigan State capture a national championship. He also hopes to sharpen his jumper and overall game before the next draft cycle, a plan that aligns with the aspirations of his brother, Jeremiah Fears, the No. 7 pick in last year’s draft.
The move also reverberates beyond the court. Teammates such as Logan Blackledge, Anton Bonke, Coen Carr and Jayce Branson have spoken about the added intensity in practice, noting that Fears' return raises the team's ceiling. University officials, including those at Great Lakes Christian College where Fears once trained, anticipate that his leadership will inspire future recruits.
Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, acknowledged the competitive balance created by Fears' decision, while the National Basketball Association highlighted the story as a reminder of the varied pathways to professional basketball.