Jeremiah Fears Frame: 6'2.5", 179.6 lbs | Wingspan: 6'5.3" Position: Guard Team: Oklahoma Sooners 2025 Draft Age: 18

Offense Jeremiah Fears is an electric, downhill attacking guard whose primary value stems from his elite ability to consistently generate paint touches. Despite his youth (18 on draft night), Fears operated as Oklahoma’s lead offensive initiator, posting a significant usage rate and averaging 17.1 points on solid but improvable efficiency (56.2 TS%). His relentless attack mentality and advanced ball-handling allow him to pressure defenses constantly, resulting in frequent trips to the free-throw line (where he converts 84.5%, a very promising indicator for shooting growth). His most defining offensive attribute is his ball-handling and burst. Fears possesses one of the quickest first steps in this draft class, leveraging his dynamic handle and rapid acceleration to break down defenders and penetrate the defense. His combination of pace-changing hesitations, sudden decelerations, and creative dribble moves frequently leave defenders off balance. He excels at drawing fouls, maintaining consistent pressure at the rim: a key indicator of future NBA viability. However, finishing efficiency is currently a major concern. While he effectively reaches the rim, Fears struggles to convert consistently (46.7% at-rim in half-court settings), primarily due to limited strength and vertical pop. He is more of a below-the-rim finisher, often rushing attempts or forcing difficult shots when challenged by size or physicality. His floater and midrange jumper, however, offer optimism: he shot 50% on floaters and 44.1% on midrange jumpers, demonstrating good intermediate scoring touch. Fears’ three-point shooting remains the most glaring weakness (28.4% on 3.9 attempts per game). His mechanics are fluid, and his comfort taking pull-ups suggests upside, but he struggles immensely with consistency and shot selection from deep, making only 18.6% of his pull-up threes. Still, solid efficiency on catch-and-shoot opportunities (36.1%) provides a pathway toward off-ball value if he can refine his mechanics and improve decision-making. Playmaking is promising but remains raw. Fears averaged 4.1 assists per game but nearly matched it with turnovers (3.4 per game), highlighting inconsistent decision-making. He excels at generating openings out of pick-and-roll due to his relentless rim pressure and willingness to jump-pass, but his accuracy and timing are currently erratic. Improving his strength and patience could significantly enhance his passing efficiency, potentially turning him into a dynamic pick-and-roll initiator. NBA teams will view Fears initially as a score-first lead guard who thrives attacking the basket and playing with pace. If his jumper stabilizes even modestly from three-point range, he has legitimate potential to become an impactful primary ball-handler, reminiscent of dynamic NBA guards such as Jamal Murray or Jordan Poole. Defense Fears’ defensive projection is more uncertain and currently limits his overall floor. His measurables (6'2.5", 179.6 lbs, 6'5.3" wingspan) are adequate for guarding NBA point guards, but his slight frame and strength deficits present immediate concerns. Right now, Fears lacks the physicality to contain penetration against stronger, more explosive guards, regularly getting pushed off spots or driven through. At Oklahoma, Fears displayed inconsistent defensive fundamentals, struggling notably with screen navigation and containing dribble penetration. While he occasionally disrupts opponents with his quickness and active hands (1.8 steals per game), his overall defensive impact remains minimal beyond occasional passing lane disruptions. He offers little as a rim protector or help defender, often ball-watching off-ball, which allows backdoor cuts and easy offensive rebounds. His engagement defensively wavers, potentially related to his significant offensive responsibilities, but improved effort and awareness must become priorities. Physically, his growth in strength and improved positional discipline are mandatory if he hopes to hold his ground against NBA-caliber athleticism. Early in his career, expect NBA teams to try hiding him on lesser offensive threats while he adds muscle and improves his defensive technique. Looking Ahead Jeremiah Fears represents the classic "boom-or-bust" guard prospect whose offensive upside is considerable but accompanied by significant developmental risk. His rare ability to consistently generate rim pressure and create scoring chances offers tantalizing star potential, especially if his shooting efficiency and decision-making improve. At his best, he profiles as a dynamic, paint-touch-heavy lead guard capable of leading offenses similarly to Jamal Murray or Jordan Poole. To unlock that potential, significant refinement is required in his perimeter shooting, decision-making, and overall strength. His current shooting inefficiency and erratic passing limit his immediate value, making him more suitable initially as a bench spark plug rather than a full-time starter. Nonetheless, his youth and flashes of offensive brilliance strongly suggest considerable upside, particularly in a development-friendly NBA environment with better spacing and coaching. Defensively, Fears faces a steep uphill climb. His initial role defensively will involve limited positional matchups, likely guarding only opposing point guards, and will require extensive physical and technical growth before achieving NBA-level adequacy. Fears is an enticing long-term project with clear avenues toward becoming a high-level NBA starting guard. Teams drafting him must be prepared for early growing pains and committed to intensive development in strength training, shooting consistency, and defensive fundamentals. If he hits his high-end outcomes, Fears could become a dynamic primary guard whose relentless attacking style provides constant offensive advantages. Even in lower-end scenarios, his ability to pressure the rim and generate offense offers valuable rotation guard potential.