Jeremiah Fears

Fears is an American guard who entered the NBA as a lottery pick in 2025 after a decorated freshman season at Oklahoma, where he became the first Sooners true freshman since Trae Young to score 30 points in a game. He has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, where he arrived with a reputation as a dynamic scorer and playmaker.

Born on October 14, 2006, Fears attended Joliet West High School in Illinois alongside his older brother Jeremy before transferring to AZ Compass Prep for his junior year. As a junior, he averaged a team-high 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.5 steals. He was rated a consensus four-star recruit and a top-25 guard in the 2025 ESPN 100. On January 22, 2024, he committed to Illinois but decommitted on July 1 and reclassified to the 2024 class, committing to Oklahoma instead.

At Oklahoma, Fears debuted on November 4, 2024, with 16 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals off the bench. He led the Sooners to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship, averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.7 steals and earning all-tournament team honors. On December 18, he scored a career-high 30 points against Michigan, including a game-winning four-point play, becoming the first Oklahoma true freshman since Trae Young in 2018 to reach 30 points. He was named a midseason Wooden Award finalist and posted his first career double-double with 27 points and 10 assists against Mississippi State.

Fears declared for the 2025 NBA draft and was selected seventh overall by the New Orleans Pelicans, becoming Oklahoma's fourth top-seven pick in the last 16 years alongside Blake Griffin, Buddy Hield, and Trae Young. He signed his rookie contract on July 5 and made his NBA debut on October 22, scoring 17 points against Memphis.

Fears is a dynamic guard with elite ball-handling, scoring instincts, and playmaking vision. He uses his quickness to blow by defenders in the pick-and-roll, finishes at the rim with either hand, and has shown a willingness to shoot from three-point range. His defensive energy and ability to generate steals add value in a backup guard role.

Fears begins his NBA career as a lottery pick with the New Orleans Pelicans, carrying the expectations of a top-seven selection and a freshman season that drew comparisons to Trae Young. His trajectory from a Joliet high school to a reclassified prospect and one of the most explosive freshman scorers in Oklahoma history reflects advanced skill development and a competitive drive that has accelerated his path to the league.