Latest news with #Fears
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Nets may have interest in Jeremiah Fears in 2025 NBA Draft
Report: Nets may have interest in Jeremiah Fears in 2025 NBA Draft The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA Draft with the eighth overall pick after a disappointing result following the Lottery in which they started at the sixth spot. Despite the fact that Brooklyn fell from No. 6 to No. 8, they are still looking for ways to get what they want in this Draft and that include them going after a talented, young guard with an interesting profile. "I've heard there's some teams that really like him and there are some teams that feel like they would probably have to move up to get him," NBA Draft expert Rafael Barlowe said of Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears during his appearance on Yahoo! Sports' "The Kevin O'Connor Show" that was published on Saturday. O'Conner mentioned that Barlowe wrote that Fears could be moving into the top-5 of the class, meaning that teams may have to trade up for him. "Brooklyn is a team that I've heard that that probably has some interest there," Barlowe continued. "I've also heard from scouts from other teams that say that their scouting staff believes that he could be a a better long-term prospect than Dylan Harper as far as just being like an exciting league guard and they talked about him being being younger and just what he did at Oklahoma was more impressive than what Dylan Harper did at at Rutgers." While Barlowe mentioned that the Nets are one of the teams that could have interest in Fears, it remains to be seen what that means in practice given that Brooklyn has the eighth overall pick. There have been reports throughout the offseason that suggest that Brooklyn could attempt to move up in the Draft, but if they are going to trade up to be in range of Fears, they would probably have to find their way into the top-5 based on Barlowe's intel. Brian Lewis of the New York Post recently said that it appears that the Dallas Mavericks (first overall pick), San Antonio Spurs (second), and Charlotte Hornets (fourth) are keeping their picks, but that the Philadelphia 76ers (third) and Utah Jazz (fifth) could be open for business for their picks. If the Nets are interested in Fears enough to trade for him, they will have to pull something off with the 76ers or the Jazz.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten hoops analyst expects a 'breakout season' for MSU starting PG Jeremy Fears Jr.
Big Ten hoops analyst expects a 'breakout season' for MSU starting PG Jeremy Fears Jr. Is Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. in for a breakout season? One Big Ten basketball analyst has already called his shot for this outcome. Former Purdue star and current Big Ten Network analyst Rapheal Davis believes Fears is in store for a breakout season in 2025-26. On Wednesday morning, Davis sent out a simple post on social media platform X: "Jeremy Fears Jr. - Breakout Season." Check out the post from Davis below: Fears stepped in as the Spartans primary staring point guard this past season after suffering a season-ending injury in the middle of his Freshman campaign. Fears started all 36 of the Spartans' games this past season, averaging 7.2 points, 5.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. Fears also became one of the clear leaders for Michigan State and was critical beyond the stat sheet in the Spartans winning the Big Ten title and reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. There are parts of Fears' game that will need to improve during this offseason -- primarily his shooting from mid-range and outside. But if he can improve upon that part of his game, I too would expect a breakout season from Fears next year. It will be needed if Michigan State is going to contend for another Big Ten title. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets 2025 NBA draft big board 3.0: Best players at pick No. 8
Nets 2025 NBA draft big board 3.0: Best players at pick No. 8 The Brooklyn Nets came away from the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with the eighth overall pick, something that the franchise was hoping wouldn't happen heading into the event. However, Brooklyn went into the Lottery knowing that they could have come away from the Lottery with a less-than-ideal pick and now, they have to move forward with different plans for who to use that pick on. The Nets had ideas of getting lucky enough to get the first overall pick, giving them the ability to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg, but that outcome did not come to fruition. Be that as it may, the 2025 class still has some players after Flagg that have the potential to become impact players at the next level and Brooklyn has to make sure that it does its homework. This will be the first time since 2023 that the Nets will have multiple first-round picks in the same draft so they have a chance of adding multiple players that can fit into the framework of the team's current rebuild. Here are five players that would be a good fit for Brooklyn at the eighth overall pick, assuming that they are not trying to trade the pick in an effort to move up: Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma Fears, listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, seems to be one of the players that could go anywhere from the fifth overall pick to the 10th overall pick due to his profile that gives plenty of reasons to either believe in his ceiling or his floor. Fears is one of the youngest prospects in this class and while that is a good thing for a prospect to be, it could also mean that his game is far from being what it could be when he is ready to contribute. Fears' game gives credence to the fact that he could be one of the better combo guards in the league at some point due to his ability to get whatever shot he wants while also having the ability to set up his teammates with some incredible passes due to his vision and ball-handing. However, Fears did shoot 28.4% from three-point land on 3.9 attempts per game so the hope is that his shooting gets better so that he can use the entirety of his bag on a nightly basis. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman writes: "Once Dylan Harper is off the board, teams interested in adding more backcourt creation, rim pressure and playmaking will focus their attention on Jeremiah Fears. Scouts are anticipating the 18-year-old drawing top-five consideration, particularly after he averaged 22.3 points and 4.8 assists over Oklahoma's final nine games. Workouts will give Fears a chance to ease some concerns over his three-point numbers. His 38 made threes still indicate clear shotmaking ability, and he was a 42.6 percent mid-range shooter." Khaman Maluach, C, Duke Maluach, listed at 7-foot-2 and 250 pounds, had a promising freshman season that rightfully made many around the NBA excited about what he could do at the next level thanks to his size and shot-blocking ability. Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 71.2% from the field and 76.6% from the free-throw line, but he had the worst game of his first season at Duke at the worst time. In the National Semi-finals against the Houston Cougars, Maluach showed all of the weaknesses of his profile as he put up just six points and one block in 21 minutes played. Maluach disappeared against a physical, veteran Houston team and while Maluach showed plenty of promise that will not take him out of the top-10, the hope is that he wouldn't have lows like that in the NBA. Wasserman writes: "Combine measurements confirmed what scouts were expecting: Khaman Maluach has incredible length (7'7" wingspan, 9'6" reach) and large hands for finishing. His quickness, speed and vertical results weren't overly impressive, though the Pelicans and others will presumably put more stock inti their eye tests on his mobility and 80 dunks." Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke Knueppel, listed at 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds, projects to be the kind of player that will be a floor-spacer for whatever team he goes to given his ability to shoot the basketball during his freshman season at Duke. While Knueppel doesn't seem like the kind of player that will be able to create shots for himself and others, his shooting ability is vital for any team looking for more shooting. Knueppel, whom Wasserman compares to Nets forward Cam Johnson, could be the kind of guy that allows Brooklyn to build around whoever comes to the roster that will have the ball in their hands, especially if Johnson ends up getting traded somewhere else this summer or during next season. Wasserman writes: "Every team figures to have some level of interest in Kon Knueppel's shotmaking, efficient scoring and easy fit. The question is who'll see upside through the athletic limitations. Viewed as a safe pick with a valued, bankable skill in shooting, Knueppel also flashed strong driving ability and high-level, ball-screen playmaking reads." Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois Jakucionis, listed at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, could be attractive to the Nets on the basis of being a bigger guard that is able to handle the ball and make things happen for himself and his teammates. During his freshman season at Illinois, Jakucionis displayed his ability to play through contact and use his size to his advantage, especially in terms of scoring and passing. Wasserman compares Jakucionis to Chicago Bulls guard Coby White and the comparison makes sense when you consider that White had some of the similar questions coming into the league when it came to whether he could overcome his inability to create space on a consistent basis. Wasserman writes: "There is some divide among scouts trying to weigh Kasparas Jakucionis' shotmaking skill and playmaking feel versus his lack of burst and separation ability. Top-10 teams may see too much risk, but later in the lottery, his positional size and shooting-passing combination should create enough translatable versatility." Derik Queen, C, Maryland Queen, listed at 6-foot-10 and 246 pounds, showed plenty of promise towards the end of the NCAA regular season and boosted his stock significantly with what he did during conference tournament time and the NCAA Tournament. What would make a selection of Queen interesting is how the Nets foresee him fitting alongside starting center Nic Claxton, who will be entering the second year of his four-year, $97 million contract next season. Queen is compared to Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun by Wasserman and it's easy to see why with the way that Queen moves on the offensive end of the floor with some sneaky athleticism to boot. However, it seems like Queen came away from the Combine with less regard for his skillset given the fact that his overall athleticism is worse in terms of numbers that it looks on tape. Wasserman writes:
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Jeremiah Fears land in USA TODAY Sports' latest NBA Mock Draft?
Where does Jeremiah Fears land in USA TODAY Sports' latest NBA Mock Draft? With less than a week for early entrants of the NBA Draft to remove their names, a clearer picture has begun to arise as how things will shake out next month. In fact, it's almost exactly a month away. The draft is scheduled to take place June 25 and 26 plenty of intrigue remains as to who will go where. Well, outside the top three, anyway. Former Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears put his name into the mix more than a month ago. He has been a staple inside the top 15 on just about every draft since. On Friday, USA TODAY Sports provided its latest mock draft, and Fears' chances of going in the lottery look awfully good. According to the mock draft, Fears is projected to go to the Washington Wizards with the No. 6 overall pick. "Solid start to his freshman season; quick on the dribble; has strength going to the rim and can finish; operates well in the pick-and-roll as a scorer and passer; needs to improve his 3-point shot but potential is there," wrote authors Jeff Zillget, Lorenezo Reyes and James H. Williams. That's similar to where Fears landed in mock draft earlier in the week. There, Fears was projected to go No. 5 to the Utah Jazz. In USA TODAY's, that spot belongs to Texas guard Tre Johnson. The top four picks are the same in both mocks. Duke's Cooper Flagg is a unanimous No. 1 pick everywhere, followed by Rutgers' Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, then Baylor's VJ Edgecomb. Fears played one season at Oklahoma before turning professional. As an 18-year-old freshman who classed up one year to get a jump on his collegiate career, Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in helping the Sooners to their first NCAA Tournament since 2019. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
5 trade down options for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA draft
5 trade down options for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA draft The Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft which is an important tool to helping them bounce back from a miserable 2024-25 season in which nothing went right for them. They were expected to contend for a title, but were ravaged by injuries that destroyed any chances at winning. With the No. 3 pick, the Sixers can make a selection or they can trade down in the draft. The Brooklyn Nets, for example, could be a trade partner as they hold the No. 8 pick and they can offer up a win-now player such as Cam Johnson, again, just as an example, for the No. 3 pick. Should the Sixers trade down, there will be plenty of options for them to choose from. Here are five options should they trade down to the 6-7-8 range: Kon Knueppel, Duke Knueppel could be a sneaky option for the No. 3 pick even for the Sixers, but he is more of a trade down option for Philadelphia. If the Sixers are thinking spacing and elite shooting, then Knueppel should be their guy. He has a high basketball IQ being able to navigate off screens to get himself open for looks, he competes on the defensive end, and he is an underrated playmaker. There are limitations so he may not grade out as a starter in some cases, but he is for sure a rotation player in this league due to the shooting ability. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma If the Sixers are thinking they need another ball-handler, Fears should be their man. He is a solid point guard with scoring chops as he averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in the 2024-25 season for the Sooners. The knock on him is his 3-point shooting as he shot only 28.4% from deep on 3.9 attempts, but there is a lot of upside there. He is an aggressive driver who can get to the basket and finish up and around taller defenders. Should Philadelphia trade down, Fears should be near the top of the board. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina Murray-Boyles is a big draft riser due to his length and versatility on the defensive end. He averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 58.6% from the floor. One has to believe those defensive skills and his agility on that end of the floor will translate to the next level as he can be in a team's rotation right away due to his perimeter defense. When considering the Sixers will need to defend some of the better perimeter players in the East, then Murray-Boyles would be a great option. Derik Queen, Maryland Should the Sixers trade down, Queen should be another great option. He is nimble on the offensive end, skilled enough to make things happen with the ball in his hands, and is a ferocious rebounder. He averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.6% from the floor for the Terrapins in 2024-25 and made some big plays in the NCAA Tournament. He has a knack for being in the right spots at the right time and his guts to make the big shots with the game on the line. Khaman Maluach, Duke Maluach could be an option for the No. 3 pick, but that would probably be a bit of a reach. The 7-foot tall big man is a bit raw offensively as he limited to putbacks and lob dunks off the pick-and-roll. While he does have soft hands to make all of this work on the offensive end, the Sixers would need him to add some type of jumper to his game. Philadelphia needs versatility out of its big men and Maluach would have to add to his game in order to stick. Either way, he'll be worth the pick in the six, seven, or eight range in this draft.
