FULL INTERVIEW: Meet Pelicans rookie, 7th overall pick Jeremiah Fears
Hello. I had the breaking news. Hey Jeremiah, can you hear me? Yeah, no, the training for the number 13 and or from, uh, from there. What we’re gonna do here is take *** break here on WWL. When we come back, get into more of the NBA draft, so stay tuned right after this on WWL. But Hey Jeremiah, you got me? Hey Jeremiah, you got me? Yes sir, I can hear you now. Welcome to New Orleans. We’re gonna pass it off to some of the media members we have down here for *** couple of quick questions. Yes sir. Jeremiah, what, what’s tonight like for you to hear your name called? Man, it was super dope. It was definitely one of those things that you will never forget, something that you dreamed about for *** long time and finally it was something I’ll write down and something I’ll play in the back of my mind forever. What do you feel like you can bring to this team? Um, I would say definitely my star power, um, my leadership, and wins to the wins column. Jeremiah, how much did you get to know the uh the els people during the pre-draft pre-draft process and how familiar with the new guys they have in the front office? Man, *** lot. It was super dope. Um, they just continue to reach out and show that they were very interested in me. Um, when I went down there to work, I kind of asked him like, what if I was to come here, what could be done and how could they go about things. Uh, things of that, uh, nature, so I mean it was super dope. Uh, sounds like they, they got great guys and they’re trying to take *** step in the right direction. And how many, what area would you like to improve, what areas would you like to improve on? What do you. I can’t, I can’t hear you. Go again, please. What areas would you like to improve on? Um, I would say definitely just continuing to build my body, um. Continue to build my body and just continue to be *** more defensive guy as well. What are your thoughts about playing with Zion? Man, it’s gonna be super dope. Uh, it’s definitely gonna be *** show. I know I bring *** lot to the table and he’s gonna take off some of the pressure on me, and it’s gonna be super exciting to watch this year. Jeremiah, are you familiar with any of the Pelicans players currently on the roster? Yes, um, I’m familiar with *** few, um, Zion, we just got Jordan Pao as well, um, we got Antonio Reeves, Keyon Brooks, it’s *** lot of guys. So it’s gonna be *** great season, um, *** lot of tools and just continue to plan on sharpening our tools. Do you have any personal, uh, previous relationships with any of the guys? Have you talked to anybody yet? I don’t, but I’m pretty sure once I check my phone, there’s gonna be *** couple uh text messages and calls. Couple more questions, please. What, what was your, your pre-draft, your process like with Willie Green? Did y’all talk about, uh, I mean, what were the extent of, of that conversation and um yeah. Man, it was great. Um, one thing I kinda learned from him was he’s *** player coach, so he’ll, uh, kinda let you, he’ll tell you what you need to do, he’ll tell you what you need to work on. He’ll also, uh, take feedback from you and ask you kind of what you see as well. So that’s super dope. You don’t see that too often, especially at the higher level, you don’t see that too often, so that was super dope and that’s one thing I took with me. Well, to the uh fans in New Orleans. Can’t hear you. Repeat that, please. What would be your message to the fans in New Orleans? Man, you guys are gonna be getting *** dog. Um, I would advise you guys to come to the game. It’s definitely gonna be *** show, um, and we’re gonna go out there and play super hard. Thanks, Jeremiah. I appreciate your time. Look forward to getting you down to New Orleans. Yes, sir. Thank you guys.
FULL INTERVIEW: Meet Pelicans rookie, 7th overall pick Jeremiah Fears
Updated: 1:05 AM CDT Jun 26, 2025
The New Orleans Pelicans have selected Jeremiah Fears with the 7th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.Fears, 6-3, 180, averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals in his freshman campaign at The University of Oklahoma during the 2024-25 season en route to 2024-25 SEC All-Freshman choice. Fears was born in Chicago, IL, and attended Arizona Compass Prep in Arizona.NBA Overview:Jeremiah Fears grew up in Illinois, but transferred to Arizona Compass Prep as a junior, where he emerged as a four-star recruit and a top guard in the 2025 ESPN 100. He initially committed to Illinois over Kansas and Michigan but ultimately landed at Oklahoma, becoming the Sooners’ biggest recruit since Trae Young. Fears started 31 of 34 games, averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.2 minutes per game while posting 43/28/85 shooting splits on 12.2 field-goal attempts, 3.9 3-point tries and 6.1 free-throw trips per game en route to SEC All-Freshman Team honors.Career Highlights2024-25 Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List selection.2024-25 SEC All-Freshman Team choice.Four-time SEC Freshman of the Week in 2024-25.Won the gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup.Reclassified to join 2024 high school class and sign with Oklahoma.
NEW ORLEANS —
The New Orleans Pelicans have selected Jeremiah Fears with the 7th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Fears, 6-3, 180, averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals in his freshman campaign at The University of Oklahoma during the 2024-25 season en route to 2024-25 SEC All-Freshman choice. Fears was born in Chicago, IL, and attended Arizona Compass Prep in Arizona.
NBA Overview:
Jeremiah Fears grew up in Illinois, but transferred to Arizona Compass Prep as a junior, where he emerged as a four-star recruit and a top guard in the 2025 ESPN 100. He initially committed to Illinois over Kansas and Michigan but ultimately landed at Oklahoma, becoming the Sooners’ biggest recruit since Trae Young. Fears started 31 of 34 games, averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.2 minutes per game while posting 43/28/85 shooting splits on 12.2 field-goal attempts, 3.9 3-point tries and 6.1 free-throw trips per game en route to SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Career Highlights
2024-25 Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List selection.2024-25 SEC All-Freshman Team choice.Four-time SEC Freshman of the Week in 2024-25.Won the gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup.Reclassified to join 2024 high school class and sign with Oklahoma.