Images of Jeremy Fears Jr: Nick King/Lansing State Journal
The Jeremy Fears Jr. experience is something to behold.
Listed at six-two, one-hundred and ninety pounds, Fears is about as stereotypical of an old-school point guard as they come.
As a consensus four-star in 2023, Fears was known throughout the grassroots scouting sector as a pass-first, defensive guard who could get downhill at will to create for others. Three years into his collegiate career, Fears is now becoming the player Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo envisioned coming out of high school. Despite the detractors, every time Jeremy Fears Jr. steps on the basketball court his presence is felt.
Last season at Michigan State, the Illinois native had a 27.1 USG% and a ridiculous 53 AST%, something that has been done only four other times since 2008 (barttorvik.com). Jeremy has become the system at Michigan State.
Grabbed a rebound? Get the ball to Jeremy Fears Jr. Running in transition? Get the ball to Jeremy Fears Jr. Offense needs to be organized? Give the ball to Jeremy Fears Jr.
This playmaking is what makes Fears Jr. such a unique college basketball player. He is able to make passes from any angle, against any defense, seemingly at any moment. Last season he led the entire nation in assists at 9.4 per contest along with 15.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He routinely makes lob passes to bigs, skips to the corner or dump downs to rollers or players at the dunker spot. His ability to manipulate defenses with his screen navigation and crab dribbles creates open looks for himself in the midrange or teammates at the rim and his eye deception freezes defenders and opens up passing lanes.
With Michigan State’s roster deficiencies last season, a large burden was put upon Fears Jr. shoulders. Without a capable backup point guard for the majority of the season, to the lack of capable perimeter defenders, Fears Jr. was asked to do too much of everything for the Spartans, but still remained productive. To go along with his incredible assist percentage, he still boasted a 3.9 A/TO ratio, remained fairly efficient, finishing with a 57.6 TS% and a 2.4 STL%, contributing on both ends of the floor (barttorvik.com). From directing the fastbreak, to getting in a stance and guarding the opponents best perimeter scorer, Fears Jr. did it all.
Coming into last season, scoring was the question mark for Jeremy Fears Jr., and really from all levels and areas on the floor. In his first healthy season at MSU, Fears Jr. finished with a 52.4 TS% with his highest scoring game being 14 points (twice). While his role offensively was not to score within the team context, the struggles, and at times completely inability to put the ball in the hoop became troublesome. With a depleted guard rotation in East Lansing last year, there was a clear role to be filled in the scoring department that was largely left unfulfilled going into the season. With no other reliable perimeter creator on the roster, Fears had to now take on both the playmaking and scoring role for Tom Izzo and the Spartans.
Shooting has always been the biggest concern for Jeremy Fears Jr. In his red-shirt freshman season at Michigan State, Fears Jr. shot 38 total 3PA in 36 games (2.6/100), only making 13 of those attempts. His volume was a bit higher from the mid-range, attempting 79 attempts but only converting at a 34.2% clip and his FT% was only at a meddling 73%. Only one season later, on higher usage and volume, Jeremy Fears Jr. made a pretty significant jump in this regard. Last season Fears Jr. shot 109 3PA at 32.1% (5.7/100), 153 mid-range attempts at 41.2% and his free throw percentage jumped all the way up to 88.5%. While the three point percentage took a slight dip (32.1%), the increase in volume more than makes up for this slight decrease (barttorvik.com).
This increase in volume was essential to Michigan State’s success last season, as at times it seemed as if the offense was begging for any time of perimeter scoring production. Over the first thirteen games and into the New Year, Fears Jr. was averaging around 11.5 PPG, however, as conference play started Fears Jr. scoring took a jump, going ten straight games scoring no less than 14 points, including a 31 point seven assist performance against instate rival the Michigan Wolverines. In 20 conference games, Fears Jr.’s TS% ballooned to 59.9% despite the three-point efficiency teetering. It was clear there was a change of mindset and increase in aggressiveness scoring the ball, though even then the AST% remained.
Jeremy Fears Jr. scoring presented itself in a multitude of ways last year, however, I believe the most impressive aspect of his scoring repertoire is his ability to draw fouls. Over the course of the season, Fears Jr. finished with a 57.1% FTr, which increased to a staggering 65.6% in conference play (barttorvik.com). With Fears Jr. aforementioned ability to manipulate screens, he is able to get downhill, either to the rim or the mid-range area, where his ball-handling, craft and decisiveness fool defenders into easy fouls and attempts at the free-throw stripe. With his lack of size, potential touch around the rim, and shooting efficiency, FTA are by far the most efficient offense from Fears Jr., where he shoots a strong 89%. While this might not be the most exciting aspect, as a team's best player and primary ball-handler, it is imperative to be able to create/absorb contact to draw fouls.
This ability has led to a lot of controversy/criticism amongst Big Ten coaches and media alike. The thing about Jeremy Fears Jr. is that he doesn't mind it one bit. While his antics may have reached unnecessary moments at times last season, Fears Jr. goal at all times is simply to get the upper hand. Whether that be winning possessions with forced turnovers or drawing cheap fouls on unsuspecting defenders, the objective remains the same. This type of style resembles the old-school collegiate point guards one either loved or hated depending on wherever their fandom may lie. One who controls the offensive on one side of the floor, then is willing to dive on it for loose balls on the other.
Now officially into his red-shirt junior season at Michigan State, Jeremy Fears Jr. is cemented as one of the favorites for National Player of the Year. With a retooled, although less experienced roster, Fears Jr. role will likely be reduced back to a more defensive/playmaking oriented one, though his improvements scoring the basketball will only open up more opportunities for himself and teammates surrounding.
For Michigan State and Tom Izzo, as question marks about his professional aspirations continue to circulate, the importance of taking advantage of the present only grows. With more expectations than ever, and a potential target on his back, Fears Jr. is now looking to continue the legacies of Michigan State point guards that built the program to what it has become today.