NORMAN — Following his impressive freshman season with OU men’s basketball, Jeremiah Fears has skyrocketed up NBA mock drafts in recent months.
ESPN released its latest edition Monday, which projects Fears to be selected fifth overall by the Utah Jazz. The uber-talented 18-year-old averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 34 games and helped lead the Sooners to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2020-21 season.
Fears, initially a top-25 recruit nationally in the 2025 class, reclassified last summer to join OU. His talent, along with his high usage rate began turning the heads of NBA draft analysts early in the season.
Fears scored 20 points in OU’s season-ending loss to UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s one thing to reclassify, then he missed the whole summer,” Moser said following the game. “I look back on his youthfulness when he got here, not having played at this level and then how he grew, and grew and grew.”
OU hasn’t had a player selected in the NBA Draft since Trae Young (No. 5 overall) in 2018. The four players projected to be selected before Fears include forward Cooper Flagg (No. 1 to Dallas), guard Dylan Harper (No. 2 to San Antonio), guard/forward Airious “Ace” Bailey (No. 3 to Philadelphia) and guard VJ Edgecombe (No. 4 to Charlotte).
Colton Sulley covers college sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.