{"id":745665,"date":"2026-05-27T22:24:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T22:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/745665\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T22:24:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T22:24:18","slug":"anton-bonke-exits-nba-draft-as-msu-basketball-waits-on-jeremy-fears-jr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/745665\/","title":{"rendered":"Anton Bonke exits NBA Draft as MSU basketball waits on Jeremy Fears Jr."},"content":{"rendered":"

Tom Izzo got a little bit of good news about next year\u2019s Michigan State basketball<\/a> roster and the NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Even though “Jeremy Fears Jr.<\/a> Watch” continued into the 11th hour.<\/p>\n

Incoming transfer Anton Bonke<\/a> has withdrawn his name from the draft process on the final day for underclassmen to return to college for the 2026-27 season, according to DraftExpress’s Jon Chepkevich<\/a> on Wednesday, May 27. The 7-foot-2, 270-pound center will arrive from Charlotte after previous stops at Providence and a junior college. Bonke averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game for Charlotte last season.<\/p>\n

\"Charlotte<\/p>\n

Charlotte 49ers center Anton Bonke (49) handles the ball against Memphis Tigers forward Aaron Bradshaw (11) during the first half at FedExForum.<\/p>\n

But the big question for MSU as the 11:59 p.m. ET deadline loomed was the impending decision of Fears, a redshirt sophomore point guard who earned All-America and All-Big Ten honors in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

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Fears measured in at 6-foot and 196.2 pounds with a 6-4 wingspan and showed he needs to work on both his shooting and defense earlier this month at the NBA Combine in Chicago. However, the 21-year-old dazzled during the scrimmage portion of the combine with his court vision and leadership. Fears averaged 13 points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals while shooting 50% but also had a number of turnovers, though that is not a surprise or a red flag in the loosely organized impromptu team structure of those scrimmages.<\/p>\n

Izzo hinted on Wednesday at the Mackinac Policy Conference<\/a> on Mackinac Island that he expected Fears\u2019 return.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got most of our guards back,\u201d Izzo said. \u201cI think we\u2019ll have all of them back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Spartans did lose Divine Ugochukwu to the portal. The combo guard, who arrived last offseason from Miami (Florida), is transferring to LSU.<\/p>\n

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When Izzo might get to start working with his full roster also will be delayed, albeit for a good reason. Incoming freshmen Jasiah Jervis (guard) and Ethan Taylor (center) were selected to the USA Basketball Men\u2019s U18 National Team<\/a> on Wednesday, and they will compete in the 2026 FIBA U18 Men\u2019s AmeriCup. That will be held June 1-7 in Leon, Mexico, and the two future Spartans will remain in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for training camp until departing for the tournament.<\/p>\n

MSU\u2019s first summer session of classes began May 11, and the second session begins June 30.<\/p>\n

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com<\/a>. Follow him\u00a0@chrissolari<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes on\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0Spotify<\/a> or anywhere you listen to podcasts.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Anton Bonke exits NBA Draft as MSU basketball waits on Jeremy Fears Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n