Will Jeremy Fears Jr. Return to Michigan State or Make the Jump to the NBA?

· Yahoo Sports

Before the NBA Draft Combine, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Jeremy Fears Jr. was simply heading there to gain valuable pro-level feedback and pinpoint a few key areas of his game to polish before becoming a potential top-10 pick in next year’s draft.

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Now, after a full week of combine action, there’s at least some doubt creeping into my mind that the legendary Spartan point guard could actually take his talents to the NBA sooner rather than later, leaving the green and white behind.

I’ll start this article with my actual prediction on whether Fears leaves Michigan State Spartans for the NBA.

No.

I still firmly believe Fears would benefit from another year at the collegiate level to put himself in the best possible position financially and professionally before starting his NBA career.

But if you read that and think, “OK, then there’s really nothing to worry about,” you’d be dead wrong.

Just because I believe Fears will return doesn’t make it a sure thing. And honestly, with the way my gambling luck usually goes, the second I type that out, there’s probably now a 99% chance he leaves just to spite me — or at least make it feel that way.

From the opening drills to the scrimmages between NBA Draft Combine participants, Fears has been turning heads and dropping jaws with his basketball IQ, scoring ability, court vision, and overall command of the game.

Many scouts already knew what Fears looked like running the floor-general role at Michigan State — and arguably doing it as well as any Spartan point guard in program history. After all, Fears shattered the school record for most assists in a single season.

So evaluators already understood how he operated within Michigan State’s system. The bigger question was how he would look without two elite big men around him and a high-flying athlete capable of jumping through the roof of any arena.

The answer? Just fine.

Fears’ lob placement, passing creativity, and ability to control the offense while simultaneously reading all nine other players on the court have stood out throughout the week. His poise has been impossible to ignore.

If you scroll through social media right now, you’ll see fans already beginning to cope with the possibility that Fears may simply be too good to pass up for NBA teams.

But that was never really the question.

There’s no doubt in my mind that, in any universe, Jeremy Fears would get drafted if he entered this year’s NBA Draft.

The real question is whether he’s done enough to be selected where he truly deserves to go.

In my opinion, Fears absolutely has top-10 talent. In a few alternate universes out there, he’s probably even a top-five selection. I’m just not fully convinced this is the year that happens.

If Fears returns to Michigan State, there’s every reason to believe the Spartans would once again battle for a Big Ten title under Tom Izzo. Beyond that, there’s no reason to think Michigan State couldn’t legitimately compete for a national championship with Fears leading the charge.

Another dominant season as one of the best facilitators in college basketball — similar to what Braden Smith did at Purdue — could significantly elevate Fears’ draft stock even further.

Right now, I believe Fears would likely land somewhere in the 20-to-30 range if he entered this year’s draft. However, if he returns for another season and continues developing offensively while leading a winning team, I genuinely think he could become a top-five to top-10 selection next year.

Still, Fears has repeatedly talked about how much it means to him to reach the NBA. It’s a lifelong dream. His brother already plays in the league, and Jeremy Fears Jr. is right on his heels.

Another season in college could bring the promise of more money, a higher draft slot, and even greater long-term success. But it also carries the unavoidable risk of injury or an unexpected setback that could hurt his draft stock.

So, for now, all anyone can do is wait and see.

Ultimately, Spartan fans will support Fears no matter what decision he makes because, at the end of the day, it’s about the person more than the program.

Still, selfishly hoping he returns to Michigan State is a feeling many Spartan fans share — and there’s absolutely no shame in admitting that.

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