Jeremy Fears Jr. Declares for NBA Draft, Keeps NCAA Eligibility

On Friday, April 10, Jeremy Fears Jr. took a step towards making his childhood dream a reality. The redshirt sophomore point guard, fresh off an All-American season that saw him break the school record for assists in a season, declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility.

In 2025-2026, Fears averaged 15.2 points per game while leading the country in assists per game, averaging 9.4 dishes per contest. He recorded this while shooting 43% from the field, 32% from three, and 88.5% from the free throw line.

What Does This Mean For Michigan State Basketball?

This puts Michigan State basketball in a sort of “limbo” while they await Fears Jr. to get league feedback and connect with NBA scouts. Granted, after an uptick in scoring during the final 75% of MSU’s season, it was not an unexpected move.

Fears already is an elite passer and great defender, and his scoring output was starting to come along. Additionally, Tom Izzo made sure to mention Fears’s leadership in every press conference, discussing how the point guard has really taken control of Spartan basketball.

The Spartans will remain in limbo until Fears either removes his name from draft consideration or makes an official decision to forgo eligibility. The guard has until May 27 to make that decision, and with a player of his caliber, it is likely that his final decision is made within a week of the deadline.

That said, based on current portal targets all revolving around forwards and centers, there is not an expectation that Fears will stay in the draft this cycle. If he does, the reins will be turned over to returning junior guard Divine Ugochukwu and incoming four-star freshman Carlos Medlock Jr., who shot an astounding 44% from beyond the arc at Link Academy (Mo.) during his senior campaign.

What Does This Mean For Jeremy Fears Jr.?

Fears Jr. will get the chance to hear from NBA teams and scouts to gauge the league interest towards him, and what suits the Joliet native when it comes to fulfilling a childhood dream or returning to East Lansing.

The Third-Team All-American was recently rated as the no. 73 prospect in ESPN writer Jeremy Woo’s top 100 2026 NBA Draft Prospects. That puts him as a borderline draft pick, with the NBA Draft only consisting of two rounds.

If there is any expectation, Fears will likely be told to improve his shooting, as the sophomore struggled to have consistency from the field at multiple stretches this season. His work beyond the arc is starting to come along, but still should reach another level to be considered a legitimate NBA draft candidate.

Recent History With Declaring, But Keeping Eligibility

The Spartans have seen plenty of players spend time testing the draft waters before returning, with Jaden Akins being the most recent example of players that returned. Meanwhile, Jase Richardson tested the waters and chose to declare last offseason.

This cycle could also see junior Coen Carr test draft waters. The hyper-athletic forward still has a ways to go on his shooting, but his athleticism is second-to-none, with him potentially being the best athlete to ever grace a Tom Izzo squad.

Some Good News

For what it is worth, Spartan Illustrated head editor David Harns has cited sources with knowledge of the situation stating that Fears is fully committed to helping Michigan State for a better run for next year.

Sources familiar with the situation tell me that Jeremy Fears remains firmly committed to returning to Michigan State ("he has not wavered") and has been actively working behind the scenes to position the team for a stronger run next season.

— David Harns (@DavidHarns) April 10, 2026

Unlike other players across the NCAA, Jeremy Fears declared but did not hit the transfer portal. His intentions are clear, that it will be the NBA or the Breslin Center for “The Floor General” during the 2026-2027 season. Buckle up, and enjoy the ride for about the next 50 days.