Before the 2025NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for theSixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears.
As things stand, the Sixers are set to pick third overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Holding the third overall pick gives Philadelphia valuable flexibility — something the front office is surely excited about. Trading down for additional assets is very much on the table, and if they go that route without wanting to sacrifice upside, Jeremiah Fears could be their guy.
Fears, however, is a guard — and that’s where some skepticism comes in. The Sixers already have two, possibly three, guards expected to log minutes next season: Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and restricted free agent Quentin Grimes. So, in a trade-down scenario — or even at No. 3 — does selecting Fears actually make sense?
We’ll break down his strengths, weaknesses, potential fit with the Sixers, and where one of the 2025 draft’s most intriguing prospects is currently landing in mock drafts.
Profile
2024-25 Stats: 34 games, 30.2 minutes, 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 43.4 FG%, 28.4 3P%, 85.1 FT%
Team: Oklahoma
Year: Freshman
Position: G
Height and Weight: 6’2.5” (without shoes) and 179.6 pounds
Born: October 14, 2006 (18 years old)
Hometown: Joliet, Illinois
Strengths
Starting with his frame, Jeremiah Fears has ideal physical tools for a lead guard. He measured 6’2.5” barefoot (over 6’4” in shoes) with a 6’5.25” wingspan and a strong, well-built frame. While not an elite vertical athlete, he possesses good functional athleticism and is quick and agile with excellent body control.
What really stands out, though, are the intangibles. Fears is one of the most competitive players in the 2025 draft class. He plays with poise, pace and confidence well beyond his years, showing excellent control even in high-pressure moments. He’s a vocal leader and high-character prospect, with a strong work ethic and a basketball pedigree by several accounts.
Offensively, Fears is a polished and natural three-level scorer. He can create his own shot with tight handles, a quick first step, and — most notably — a great change of pace. That ability to manipulate tempo puts defenders on their heels and helps him create separation, much like guards such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Kyrie Irving. He’s fluid off the dribble and uses hesitation moves, herky-jerky rhythm shifts, and slick footwork to attack defenders from different angles.
As a shooter, Fears is smooth and confident, both off the catch and off the bounce. He’s comfortable pulling up from midrange or behind the arc and shows solid mechanics and balance in his jumper. He’s also a threat off movement, with legitimate three-level scoring upside.
In the pick-and-roll, Fears already operates like a veteran. He reads coverages well, knows when to snake the screen or reject it entirely, and shows excellent timing on pocket passes and lobs. His feel for spacing and ability to make quick decisions makes him a capable playmaker, especially for his age.
Around the rim, he’s a crafty finisher with soft touch and a deep bag. He uses floaters, high-glass layups, and off-hand finishes to score over length, and he’s not afraid of contact. Despite not being an elite leaper, he leverages his body well and has a strong sense of timing near the basket.
Defensively, Fears plays with energy and focus. He moves well laterally, has active hands, and shows solid instincts in the passing lanes. When he’s locked in, he can be a disruptive on-ball defender. He also rebounds well for a guard, averaging 4.1 rebounds per game at Oklahoma and 4.8 per game during his high school career.
Add to that his leadership qualities, maturity, and the fact that he grew late (now a legit 6’4”)— and it’s easy to see why Fears exploded down the stretch of his freshman season, averaging around 25 points per game over his final 10 outings. He’s the kind of guard who impacts winning in multiple ways and brings both floor and ceiling value to whichever team bets on him.
Weaknesses
While Jeremiah Fears brings plenty to like, there are still areas of his game that need refining— particularly if he’s going to maximize his potential as a lead guard at the next level.
Shooting consistency remains a question mark. Although his mechanics are clean and repeatable, Fears has struggled from three-point range, hitting just 28.4% from beyond the arc during his freshman season at Oklahoma. He wasn’t a lights-out shooter in high school either, and while there’s optimism that he’ll improve, he’ll need to become more reliable —especially off the dribble — to fully unlock his offensive ceiling.
Shot selection can also be an issue. At times, he settles for contested midrange jumpers instead of probing further into the defense or seeking contact at the rim. Developing more discipline in this area would not only improve his efficiency but also open up better playmaking options.
As a passer, Fears has shown flashes — particularly in the pick-and-roll — but he’s still more of a scoring guard than a true facilitator at this stage. He averaged 4.1 assists to 3.4 turnovers per game, and there are moments where he dribbles into traffic or forces passes under pressure. His vision is solid, but his decision-making can lag behind, especially when the defense collapses.
Improving as a spot-up shooter will also be important. Right now, he’s more comfortable with the ball in his hands than spacing the floor off-ball, which could limit his versatility early on in a multi-guard lineup.
Defensively, the tools are there — quick feet, solid frame, and flashes of on-ball toughness — but his focus can waver, particularly off the ball. He’ll need to tighten up his screen navigation and stay more disciplined in team defensive concepts to avoid getting caught out of position.
To his credit, many of these are typical developmental areas for young guards making the leap to a higher level of competition. With his work ethic and competitiveness, there’s reason to believe Fears can make meaningful strides in each of these areas.
Potential Fit in Philly
Among the projected top-10 prospects, there’s a fair argument that Jeremiah Fears might be the least natural fit for Philadelphia. As noted earlier, Fears is at his best with the ball in his hands — he’ll need consistent on-ball reps to develop, work through mistakes, and showcase his strengths as a scorer and playmaker. While he has the size to theoretically play off the ball, he hasn’t yet demonstrated the skill set to thrive in that role.
The Sixers, meanwhile, are already crowded at the guard spot. Some might argue that Tyrese Maxey or Jared McCain could benefit from playing off-ball more often, but doing so would come at the cost of size and defensive versatility. Despite Fears’ solid frame for a guard, he’s unlikely to match up well against true forwards, and pairing him with another undersized guard only compounds the issue. A way-too-early look at next season’s roster suggests Maxey and McCain will handle the bulk of the ball-handling responsibilities, which could limit the developmental runway Fears needs in a lead guard role.
We’ll see how quickly Fears can improve his perimeter shooting, but if it doesn’t translate early — or at all — you’re looking at a guard who’s most effective with the ball in his hands and offers little as a floor spacer without it. That kind of profile could create spacing issues alongside Joel Embiid, especially in high-leverage offensive situations.
Could Fears still work in Philadelphia? Absolutely — particularly if given time to develop. But there are several other prospects in this range who not only project as cleaner fits but also address more immediate needs for the Sixers without sacrificing upside.
Draft Projection
SB Nation mock draft: No. 8, Brooklyn Nets
In this mock, Fears falls to the eighth pick, where the Brooklyn Nets — desperately in need of talent, and more specifically a lead guard — would likely be thrilled to scoop him up. For Fears, this could be one of the most favorable landing spots in the draft. While the Nets are expected to bring back D’Angelo Russell, he could easily slide over to the two and play off of Fears. Together, they’d form a backcourt of two bigger guards, both capable of scoring and creating offense, giving Brooklyn a much-needed jolt of playmaking and versatility.
When it comes to what will actually happen on draft night, Fears remains one of the harder prospects to project. He has some of the highest upside in this class, but the sheer amount of guard depth across the league could cause teams in the top 10 to look elsewhere. Realistically, he could be selected as high as fourth or slide into the late lottery, making him one of the biggest swing prospects in the draft.