In the electrifying 87 - 86 win over No. 21 Michigan on Wednesday night in the Jumpman Invitational, true freshman guard Jeremiah Fears might just have become a household name. An 18 - year - old guard who should still be in high school, Fears made a game - winning four - point play for the Sooners (11 - 0). With 11.5 seconds left and after nailing a contested 3 - pointer while being fouled, his shot could very well be his grand entrance onto the national stage.

Postgame Interview with Fears

In a postgame interview with ESPN, Fears expressed his emotions. "It was just great," he said. "It actually was for one of my teammates, but they ended up denying him. Coach just looked at me and said, 'Make a play.'... Just knowing the work I’ve put in, the countless hours and sleepless nights, I think it helped pay off today."

Game Statistics

Fears truly shined in this game. He finished with 8 of 12 shooting for a career - high 30 points. His free throw shooting was also remarkable, as he was 11 of 13 from the line. Along with 4 assists and shooting 3 of 4 from 3 - point range, he was a force to be reckoned with.

Impact on the Team

Fears has been a significant reason for Oklahoma's undefeated start thus far. Ranking inside the top 15 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, he is one of the team's key players. His play has firmly placed him on the 2025 NBA draft radar. However, the tough SEC conference slate is about to make the grind much more challenging.

Who is Jeremiah Fears?

Fears is a starting guard for Oklahoma in his first season of college basketball. Originally in the 2025 recruiting class, he reclassified to 2024 after leading the 2024 Nike Peach Jam in scoring. He was first committed to Illinois but flipped to the Sooners when he decided to play college basketball early. According to 247Sports’ Composite rankings, he is ranked the No. 44 player nationally and No. 5 combo guard, holding offers from Tennessee, Arizona, Kansas, and Michigan, among others.In his first three games, he came off the bench. But against East Texas A&M, he entered the starting lineup and has held that position ever since. His best games came against the Sooners’ toughest opponents this season. In the Battle 4 Atlantis, he dropped 26 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a win over then - No. 24 Arizona.Currently, Fears enters Thursday’s game ranking sixth in scoring average among all freshmen, behind the likes of Rutgers’ five - star duo Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey and Texas five - star forward Tre Johnson.

Family Connection

Fears’ older brother, Jeremy Fears Jr., is a guard at Michigan State. Their father, Jeremy Fears Sr., was a standout guard at Ohio before playing his final season at Bradley.

NBA Draft Projection

As it currently stands, Fears has played himself into a potential lottery pick for the 2025 NBA Draft. Here are the latest mock draft projections for him.

Freshman Season Stats

Through 11 games in his freshman season, Fears’ stats are impressive. He averages 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on 49.6% shooting. These stats clearly showcase his talent and impact on the team.