21-Year-Old All-American Returning to College Basketball After the 2026 NBA Draft Deadline
Star Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. left Spartans fans on do not disturb for almost two months while pondering his basketball future. As one could imagine, this gave Sparty Nation an uneasy feeling as the possibility of the redshirt sophomore spurning East Lansing and trying his luck in the draft grew larger. This anxiety was put to rest this past Wednesday when the Illinois native announced his plans to drop out of the NBA Draft and return to Michigan State for another season. After an impressive combine, it was still believed he would be a second-round pick or go undrafted, ultimately steering him to the NCAA. As Tom Izzo brings in one of the best recruiting classes for the Spartans in years, adding an All-American guard makes Fears the most important returning player from the NBA Draft deadline.
The Spartans are considered to be in a small group of early national title contenders this offseason. Michigan State brings in a top-five recruiting class, even higher depending on who you ask. For arguably the first time in Fears’ career at State, he will be surrounded by shooters and scorers. A huge factor for the star guard who led the nation last season with 9.4 assists a night. Not only will the new blood help provide baskets, but the 2026-2027 Spartans squad will also be returning six of their top eight scorers from the previous season. This is an experienced group of scorers who have been to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond. There is real potential with Fears at the helm that the Spartans can become offensive juggernauts. His leadership will be the final piece of the puzzle that will help unlock their offensive potential.
Beyond having pieces around the All-American guard to ease pressure, his offense continues to show growth. This growth is much needed if he wants to become a future first-round pick. The biggest knock to the Big Ten Player of the Year nominee was his shooting from beyond the arc. Over the length of the season, he saw a large improvement from three. In his final 10 games of the 2025-2026 season, Fears shot 47% on a modest 16 for 34. This dropped in the NBA Draft Combine, although at a longer distance, where he ended up shooting only 32% from deep. Still, it was clear the confidence in the MSU guard was growing, and he became willing to shoot the three. Although Fears will probably not lead the Spartans in points this season, expect to see a more polished and efficient attack from the point guard.
The return of Michigan State’s undoubted leader can not be understated. Adding All-American in Fears to a roster containing a top-five recruiting class and senior high-flyer Coen Carr is deadly. This gives an immediate jolt to Tom Izzo’s chase for their second National Championship. His leadership and playmaking ability will help make the Spartans not only one of the deadliest offenses in the nation but also one of the deadliest teams. The returning assist leader has established himself as the most important player coming back from the NBA Draft and makes Michigan State’s title hopes even more realistic.
