On Wednesday, Joliet native Jeremiah Fears announced he was entering the NBA Draft. The Oklahoma freshman revealed the news on ESPN’s Paul Finebaum Show, a sign of just how big the 18-year-old has become in college basketball.
It’s been a remarkable year for Fears, who skipped his senior year of high school and reclassified to attend Oklahoma and play this season.
Fears began high school at Joliet West. The Sun-Times was there for his debut at the prestigious Tournament of Champions in central Illinois. That was back when Illinois high school basketball players had to wear face masks. Fears scored 17 points in his first game, a loss to St. Louis powerhouse Vashon.
He played one more year locally, helping his brother Jeremy Fears Jr. win Sun-Times Player of the Year and become a McDonald’s All-American.
Then Fears was off to prep school. He played one year at Compass in Arizona. Initially, the plan was for Fears to finish high school and head to Illinois for the 2025-26 college basketball season.
That plan changed in July. Fears decommitted from Illinois, reclassified to the Class of 2025, and committed to Oklahoma.
The move was widely panned. Almost no one believed Fears was ready to succeed at the highest level of college basketball. Almost no one. His father, Jeremy Fears Sr., had a plan. Fears senior was a tremendous athlete at Joliet West and played college basketball at Ohio University and Bradley. He has very closely managed the basketball careers of his sons.
Last summer Fears told me on multiple occasions that he wanted Jeremiah in the 2025 NBA Draft. That’s how far ahead Dad was thinking. That’s how much confidence he had in his son. Jeremy Sr. wasn’t even worried about his son succeeding in college basketball, he was already eyeing the next step.
Fears Sr. was vindicated entirely this season. Jeremiah shocked everyone, even Oklahoma coach Porter Moser, who had the freshman coming off the bench to start the season.
Fears was only rated as a four-star recruit out of Compass. Rivals had him 44th in the country, 247Sports 64th and ESPN ranked him 40th. They were all very, very wrong.
Joliet West's Jeremiah Fears (2) brings the ball into the front court as the Tigers play Vashon.
Joliet West’s Jeremiah Fears (2) brings the ball into the front court as the Tigers play Vashon.
Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times
The 6-4 guard was one of the most intriguing players in college basketball this season. He averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season for Oklahoma. He scored 29 in a win against Georgia, 26 against Arizona, 22 vs. Florida and made a four-point play to lead the Sooners to an overtime win against Michigan.
“This year has been an incredible journey and I am grateful for all the love and support I have received from the OU fan base! I want to express my gratitude to Coach Moser and the entire coaching staff, who believed in me and allowed me to showcase my abilities at the University of Oklahoma,” Fears said in a statement on social media.
Fears isn’t just hoping to be drafted. He’s the No. 7 prospect in ESPN’s draft projections. Fears was a talent from the start, it’s no surprise he was a college star, only a surprise it happened so young.
“Jeremiah Fears’ combination of size, speed, pace, shot-creation, shot-making and scoring instincts makes him one of the draft’s most talented prospects,” Jonathan Givony of Draft Express said on X. “He gets anywhere he wants on the floor, either to create for teammates, finish skillfully in the lane or get to the line.”
Only three Joliet natives have played in the NBA: George Mikan, Ed Mikan and Roger Powell Jr.
George Mikan, one of the most notable basketball players in history, led the NBA in scoring from 1949 to 1951, won multiple championships and changed the sport. His brother Ed Mikan was in the league from 1948 to 1954.
Powell, now the head coach at Valparaiso, played 13 minutes in three games for Utah in 2006.