Every now and then, the Oklahoma Sooners get a guaranteed NBA player on the basketball team. In recent times, there have been Blake Griffin, Buddy Hield, Trae Young, and now Jeremiah Fears.
In the 2024-25 season, Fears had some dominating performances as a true freshman. He had games and moments where he took over, which isn’t abnormal as a freshman, but it’s a good way to see the trajectory of the player. Fears definitely had a strong freshman year at Oklahoma in the 2024-25 season, one of the best in the SEC of all players in a similar position as him.
The 6-foot-4 guard, who joined the Sooners a year early after reclassifying from the 2025 class, averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. His play helped Oklahoma go 20-14 and make the NCAA Tournament, earning him SEC All-Freshman honors and making him a likely lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. And, like those guys that we mentioned earlier, he has the potential to be a big-time player at the next level.
However, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. There were moments when we got to see him carry the load on his back this year. And, unfortunately for the Sooners, the world got to see him play this best at the biggest moments. That only raises his draft stock, and with how the NBA works, the longer you stay in college, it feels like the worse your stock gets over the years.
Fears should try to go to the league while his chances of being picked high are as good as they will likely get. And it seems like that’s exactly what he will do.
After the Sooners’ NCAA Tournament loss to the UConn Huskies, Fears posted a picture of his jersey on the floor on his story, which almost definitely means he’s going to declare for the NBA draft.
If that does indeed happen, wherever he is drafted, he will have a fan base following him.