NBA Mock Draft: Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears new to top five
NBA Mock Draft: Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears new to top five
Jeremiah Fears' NBA Draft stock just keeps rising.
ESPN.com's latest NBA mock draft projections have the former Sooners guard going No. 5 overall in next month's NBA Draft. Fears has moved up six spots since he first announced his intention to enter the fray.
Fears' move upward comes after the NBA Draft Combine's conclusion over the weekend. The 6-foot-6 guard earned praise for his offensive ability both scoring and distributing the basketball.
"His combination of size, speed, pace, shotmaking and shot creation gives him significant long-term upside, as he can get anywhere on the floor to create for teammates, finish skillfully in the lane or head to the free throw line," Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo wrote in their analysis of former OU star.
Fears spent just one year in Norman, and that came after he reclassified to become a part of the 2024 class. He'll still be 18 years old when he's drafted, making him one of the youngest players in the draft. The one year with the Sooners, though, was spectacular.
He averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his first and only season. Those numbers helped Oklahoma to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
The four players projected to be selected in front of Fears remained unchanged. Former Duke forward Cooper Flagg is projected to go first overall to the Dallas Mavericks, followed by two ex-Rutgers players in Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) and Ace Bailey (Philadelphia 76ers). Former Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe is projected to go fourth overall to the Charlotte Hornets.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Two SEC Programs on ‘Commitment Watch' For Highly Touted Quarterback After Official Visits
Two SEC Programs on 'Commitment Watch' For Highly Touted Quarterback After Official Visits originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Celina, Texas, four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley has emerged as one of the nation's top prospects for the class of 2026, with LSU and Oklahoma battling it out for his commitment. Advertisement He's a 6-foot-2, 200-pound dual-threat quarterback and led Celina High School to a 16-0 record and a state championship in 2024, throwing for 3,211 yards, 47 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. He added 923 rushing yards along with 16 touchdowns on the ground. Bentley can spread the ball across the field with his strong arm and great accuracy. He brings mobility as well, giving him a dynamic advantage while under pressure. Bentley's rapid rise has seen him climb the rankings as he mulls a huge decision. According to 247Sports, he's the No. 78 ranked overall recruit and the seventh quarterback in the class. Advertisement It seems as if Bentley is getting closer to a decision. After his recent trips to Baton Rouge (May 31, 2025) and Norman (June 6-8, 2025), Bentley is officially on commitment watch. LSU appeals to the young quarterback because of its recent history of developing the position with recent Heisman winners Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow. The Tigers consistently bring elite skill position players to the program, which also makes them very enticing. On the other side, Oklahoma's offensive coordinator Ben Abruckle's fast-paced scheme saw Cam Ward have success just two years ago at Washington State. The Sooners' close proximity to his home state of Texas could also be a driving factor for his choice. As a decision gets closer, both programs are hopeful to land one of the best quarterbacks in next year's class. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Mavericks believe Jason Kidd will return as head coach next season, not fill Knicks vacancy: Sources
Amid widespread speculation that Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd could force his way out to join the New York Knicks, there are strong signs that the 52-year-old Hall of Famer will stay put. As The Athletic reported, the Knicks have serious interest in hiring Kidd — who has two seasons left on his contract — after they shockingly fired Tom Thibodeau last week. Yet according to team and league sources, the Mavericks continue to privately insist to key stakeholders that Kidd won't be going anywhere. According to a team source, the Knicks had yet to request permission to speak with Kidd as of Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement The widely held belief is that Kidd, ultimately, is hoping to parlay the Knicks' interest into a lucrative contract extension. It remains to be seen how Kidd might respond if he doesn't get the desired extension, and there is historical precedent here when it comes to Kidd spurning the Mavericks for the Knicks. At the end of his decorated 19-year playing career — in the summer of 2012 — Kidd was expected to re-sign with the Mavericks in free agency. But he changed course abruptly, signing a multiyear deal to play alongside Carmelo Anthony in New York. As of now, the Mavericks don't believe that Kidd will leave them for the Knicks again. Kidd has been present at the Mavericks' practice facility this past week as they've held workouts and has functioned in a business-as-usual capacity. What's more, the negotiations with former Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns head coach Jay Triano for a lead assistant-coaching position with the Mavericks have been revealing when it comes to Kidd. According to a league source, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made it clear to Triano during the process that Kidd would remain the head coach. Triano, the league source said, agreed to terms on the assistant position on Tuesday. NBA reporter Jake Fischer was first to report on the Mavericks' interest in Triano. Triano has spent the past three years as a Sacramento Kings assistant. In September, he was promoted to associate head coach. The Kings fired his boss Mike Brown in December and tapped Doug Christie for their head-coaching position. The Knicks are the only NBA team with a head-coaching vacancy right now. They fired Thibodeau after he led them to the playoffs in four of the five years he was in charge. New York made the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years this past spring, but it still decided to part ways with Thibodeau. Advertisement Kidd, who was one of the candidates the Knicks interviewed in their 2020 hiring cycle, has a strong relationship with New York's star point guard in Jalen Brunson. Kidd coached Brunson for one season with the Mavericks in 2021-22. Brunson's strong performance in the 2022 playoffs helped him earn a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks. The Mavericks have downplayed the possibility of a Kidd-Brunson reunion this week. The belief internally in Dallas is that Kidd will be the team's coach next season.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Zach Edey has left ankle surgery that could sideline him for the start of next season
FILE - Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) reacts in the first half of Game 3 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File) MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Edey could miss the start of the 2025-26 season after the Memphis Grizzlies rookie center had surgery Tuesday on his left ankle. Edey needed the procedure to repair and restabilize his ankle after spraining it again during offseason training last week. The Grizzlies said the 7-foot-3 Canadian would be evaluated again in four months, which is less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season opens Oct. 21. Advertisement The two-time national player of the year at Purdue missed 12 games early in the season because of a sprained left ankle. He went on to play in 66 games, making 55 starts, and averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-leading 8.3 rebounds. He was voted to the All-Rookie first team. ___ AP NBA:
