Jeremy Fears Jr. NBA Mock Draft scouting report: Pass-first point guard's projection as a pro

Jeremy Fears Jr. is one of the best passers in the nation. The pure point guard led the nation in assists per game this season while running the offense for a Michigan State team that made a deep tournament run. He's been one of the best players in college, earning Sporting News Third Team All-American honors. 

Fears is also one of college basketball's great villains. He's earned comparisons to Draymond Green for a series of plays that some have called dirty. 

Fears is a great college point guard. Can he follow in the footsteps of his younger brother Jeremiah, who has shown promise as a rookie point guard for the Pelicans after being taken with the No. 7 pick of the 2025 draft? 

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Jeremy Fears Jr. stats

Jeremy Fears Jr. height, weight, year

• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 190 pounds
• Year: Sophomore

Jeremy Fears Jr. strengths

Fears is a gritty point guard who has excellent court vision and has thrived playing in Tom Izzo's high-tempo offense. Michigan State ranked No. 22 on that end of the floor, thanks to Fears' mastery in pick-and-roll settings. 

Fears averaged 1.54 points per possession when factoring in his scoring and assists, which ranked in the 99th percentile of all players in the country. He can make the routine pass and some flashy ones, using no-look passes to throw off defenders. 

Fears isn't a great 3-point shooter, but he can make his open ones. He hit 35.7 percent of his unguarded 3's this season. He has upped his volume considerably this season, showing some progress.

Fears doesn't have great physical tools as a defender. He's undersized and doesn't have explosive athleticism. He has a good motor though, and he is pesky at the point of attack. 

Fears is a big-time winner at the college level. He's extremely smart, he's competitive, and he takes total control of the games that he plays in. He is the classic floor general that makes a team function better. 

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

Jeremy Fears Jr. weaknesses

If Fears is going to make it in the NBA, then he simply has to become a more reliable 3-point shooter. He's connecting on only 32.1 percent of his 3's this season and is at 32.0 percent for his career. He is a very good midrange shooter, but he needs to extend that range out. 

Fears also needs to get much better as a finisher. He shot only 52.7 percent at the rim, which ranked in the 30th percentile of college players. He doesn't have elite athleticism or explosiveness, relying more on craft or trying to get to the foul line. That is going to become an even more pronounced issue against bigger NBA defenders. 

Most teams have a lead initiator that can create their shot at any time. Fears isn't that type of player. He needs a ball screen in order to find openings to score. And even when he does shoot, his efficiency is middling. 

Fears' attitude can be a positive driving force. He took things a little bit too far this season, and he needs to be able to control his emotions better. After being accused of dirty plays in two consecutive games this season, Izzo said Fears "has got to grow up a little bit." 

While Fears tries hard on defense and can create a lot of havoc, there's only so much that he can do as a 6-2 guard. He struggles on switches. 

There may be a role for Fears in the NBA. His high floor as a polished decision-maker and leader gives him a realistic chance to stick as a backup point guard, provided he addresses shooting and finishing.

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Jeremy Fears Jr. NBA Mock Draft projection

Mock Draft projection: Undrafted

Fears isn't showing up on a lot of draft boards. He's certainly a good player, but he has too many weaknesses right now and the bar to make it as an undersized point guard is so high. 

Fears will likely return to school for another year. Scouts will want to see if he can improve his shooting percentages. In order to make it in the NBA, he has to become more of an efficient threat. 

MORE: NBA Mock Draft 2026: Projecting where Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa will go

Jeremy Fears Jr. NBA player comparison

Plays like: Ricky Rubio

Rubio was a 6-2 passing savant who played 12 years in the NBA. He was never the greatest offensive weapon, hitting only 38.8 percent of his field goals and 32.4 percent of his 3's. He carved out a long career though by setting up teammates and playing tough, smart defense. 

There aren't many players like Rubio in today's NBA. The game has evolved rapidly, and the need for shooting has become even more pronounced. And Fears is an elite passer, but Rubio was a true outlier in that area. Maybe there is a team that could use a Rubio-lite off the bench. 

Another popular comparison for Fears is Tyus Jones, who came into the NBA as a very poor shooter. Jones was able to improve, shooting above 40 percent from 3 for two straight years and turning into one of the best backup guards in the league. Once his shot abandoned him again, he struggled to stay on the floor, illustrating how important that skill is.

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