The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Joliet, Illinois is playing the best basketball of his career.
A Young Leader Taking Charge in East Lansing
Jeremy Fears has guided the Michigan State Spartans to a perfect 7-0 start and is pushing them toward a spot in the AP Top 10 when the new rankings are released. His growth has been undeniable, and his performance in Fort Myers on Thursday proved it again.
Michigan State stayed unbeaten by holding the Tar Heels to only 60 points, the fourth time in their last five games that the Spartans have allowed 60 or fewer. Fears delivered one of the most complete outings of the season with 19 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in a dominant 16-point win.
The Breakout Season Arrives
A year ago, Fears showed flashes but was still learning how to run the offense at a high level. That has changed. He now controls everything for Tom Izzo’s team and is producing at a near double-double pace. Fears is averaging 12 points, 9.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. Last season, he posted 7.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds across 36 starts.
Basketball runs deep in the Fears family. Jeremy is the older brother of Jeremiah Fears, a first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Pelicans. His father, Jeremy Sr., played collegiately at Ohio University and Bradley University.
During his high school career at Joliet West, Fears was ranked as the No. 27 player in the country and the top recruit in Illinois. He earned MaxPreps Illinois High School Basketball Player of the Year honors after averaging nearly 19 points per game.
The Road Ahead for the Spartans
Michigan State faces a serious test as the calendar flips toward conference play. Fears and his teammates stay home for a Thursday matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes to open the Big Ten season. Duke follows on December 6. After a road trip to Penn State, the Spartans see Toledo, Oakland, and Cornell to finish out 2025.
The Big Ten appears stacked this season, and challenges will come quickly. Fears and longtime head coach Tom Izzo understand the grind that lies ahead. Still, with their point guard playing with poise, confidence, and undeniable efficiency, the Spartans look ready for it.
Averaging just under a double-double and controlling games on both ends, Fears has Michigan State in a strong position as they march toward the rugged heart of conference play, led by a guard who truly plays with no fear.