NBA Draft

Jeremiah Fears Has Unique Test in Opening Round of March Madness

The Oklahoma Sooners will lean on freshman Jeremiah Fears to lead them against UCONN in a matchup that can solidify his NBA Draft stock.

Rylan Stiles

Mar 20, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) with the ball during practice at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Mar 20, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) with the ball during practice at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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The 2025 NCAA Tournament has began and already we have seen some of the top prospects take care of business and suffer heartbreaking losses which is fitting for a tournament with the name March Madness.

The Oklahoma Sooners have gone dancing for the first time in years and that is in large part thanks to its true freshmen, the youngest player in college basketball, Jeremiah Fears. The five star product joined Porter Moser's club a year early to help the Sooners bench boss made his first NCAA tournament trip in Norman.

Fears has been stellar throughout the season, after dominating non-conference play, it took some time to adjust to the SEC but the youngster figured it out and proved key for Oklahoma down the stretch. Now, Fears and company face its toughest test yet: A tournament game against Dan Hurley and UCONN.

The reigning back-to-back Champions have had a week to prepare for Oklahoma and its system spearheaded by Fears. If the future lottery pick can dissect the Huskies, it could go a long way in establishing his draft stock which ranges from early-to-late lottery.

His upside is there along with the dominating play and this is a chance to showcase it on the biggest stage college basketball has to offer. This season, Fears is averaging 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and nearly two steals a game with 43/27/84 shooting splits.

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Rylan Stiles
RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is lead beat writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network. 

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