Jeremiah Fears Bio
Jeremiah Fears (born October 14, 2006) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A versatile combo guard, he plays both point guard and shooting guard and stands 6 feet 3 inches tall. Fears was selected seventh overall by the Pelicans in the 2025 NBA draft after one standout season at the University of Oklahoma. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young guards to enter the league in recent years.
Early Life and Background
Jeremiah Fears was born on October 14, 2006, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a basketball household, with the sport woven into the fabric of his family life from an early age. His father, Jeremy Fears Sr., played college basketball at Ohio, where he earned Mid-American Conference All-Freshman honors in 2005, before transferring to Bradley. That deep family connection to the game helped shape Fears’ early development and his love for competition.
Fears’ older brother, Jeremy Fears Jr., also pursued basketball at a high level, eventually playing college basketball for Michigan State. Surrounded by family members who understood the demands of the sport, Jeremiah developed a competitive edge and a strong work ethic during his formative years. The brothers even shared the court at one point, with Jeremiah teaming up with his older sibling during his sophomore year of high school at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois.
Path to Basketball
Fears’ path toward elite basketball began at Joliet West High School, where he played as a sophomore alongside his older brother, Jeremy. After that season, he transferred to AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, to take on a larger role and face tougher competition. As a junior at AZ Compass Prep, Fears emerged as the team’s leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, a stat line that showcased his two-way potential.
His junior-year performance pushed him into the national spotlight, and he was ranked as a consensus four-star recruit. He was also tabbed as a top-25 guard in the 2025 ESPN 100. Fears originally committed to Illinois but later decommitted on July 1 and pledged to Oklahoma, reclassifying into the 2024 class in the process. With that move, he became the first Oklahoma recruit to be ranked in the top 40 by ESPN since Trae Young.
Jeremiah Fears Career
Early Career (2024–2025)
Jeremiah Fears joined the Oklahoma Sooners for the 2024–25 season, stepping into a backcourt that had been thinned by the transfers of starters Javian McCollum, Otega Oweh, and Milos Uzan. Described as an effective ball handler and a dynamic scorer, Fears quickly earned a role despite his freshman status. He made his Oklahoma debut on November 4, 2024, recording 16 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals off the bench against Lindenwood.
By the Sooners’ fourth game of the season, an East Texas A&M matchup on November 21, Fears had moved into a starting role and dropped a game-high 20 points. He later led Oklahoma to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship in late November, posting a then season-high 26 points in a semifinal upset of No. 24 Arizona and earning all-tournament honors along with SEC Freshman of the Week recognition. He capped his season by declaring for the 2025 NBA draft.
Oklahoma Sooners Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Fears’ lone college season delivered several career-defining moments. On December 18, 2024, he erupted for a career-high 30 points against No. 24 Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational, including a game-winning four-point play with 11.5 seconds remaining. The performance made him the first Oklahoma true freshman since Trae Young in 2018 to score 30 or more points in a game. He followed that with another Freshman of the Week award and was named a midseason finalist for the Wooden Award on January 7, 2025.
Fears continued to fill the stat sheet as the season progressed, notching a team-high 21 points in a win over No. 24 Vanderbilt on February 1, and his first career double-double with 27 points and 10 assists against No. 21 Mississippi State on February 22. He was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2025, cementing his status as one of the conference’s top first-year players.
New Orleans Pelicans Era (2025–Present)
On June 25, 2025, Fears was selected with the seventh overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans, becoming Oklahoma’s fourth top-seven pick in 16 years, alongside Blake Griffin, Buddy Hield, and Trae Young. He signed his rookie contract on July 5 and made his NBA regular-season debut on October 22, scoring 17 points in a 128–122 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Fears played in all 82 games for the Pelicans during his rookie campaign, a franchise first for a New Orleans rookie, and averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
His rookie year was punctuated by historic performances, including a 40-point outburst on April 7 against the Utah Jazz, a 156–137 win in which he shot 17 of 29 from the field. That total set the Pelicans franchise record for most points in a game by a rookie, as well as the league record for the youngest guard ever to score 40 points in an NBA game. Following the season, Fears was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team for 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jeremiah Fears is celebrated for his effective ball-handling, dynamic scoring, and defensive instincts. He combines quickness with creativity as a passer, allowing him to operate effectively at both guard spots. His knack for getting to the free-throw line, his change-of-pace dribble, and his high steal rate make him a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Fears’ signature achievements are his 30-point game-winning effort against Michigan, his 40-point Pelicans-rookie-record performance against the Utah Jazz, and his status as the first Pelicans rookie to play all 82 games in a season. He was also a key member of Team USA’s gold-medal-winning squad at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup, where he averaged 6.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and a team-high three steals per game.
Jeremiah Fears Career Wins
Jeremiah Fears has assembled a young but decorated résumé that includes the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup gold medal, the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament championship with Oklahoma, and All-Rookie Second Team recognition in the NBA. His achievements at the high school, college, and professional levels reflect a player who has consistently delivered on the biggest stages.
College Highlights
During his single season at Oklahoma, Fears led the Sooners to the Battle 4 Atlantis title and earned all-tournament honors. He was also a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week and a Wooden Award midseason finalist. He closed his college career with selection to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Other Wins & Performances
Fears helped lead the United States to gold at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup in Argentina, his first national team tournament. His defensive energy and ball-handling were central to Team USA’s championship run.
Jeremiah Fears Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Fears family. His father, Jeremy Fears Sr., played college basketball at Ohio and earned Mid-American Conference All-Freshman accolades in 2005 before transferring to Bradley. The senior Fears has been a guiding presence in Jeremiah’s development, providing insight drawn from his own collegiate experience.
Personal Life
Jeremiah Fears’ older brother, Jeremy Fears Jr., is a college basketball player at Michigan State. The two brothers once shared the court at Joliet West High School, where Jeremiah played as a sophomore before transferring to Arizona Compass Prep. Fears continues to focus on his young NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans.
2025 Season Performance
Fears’ rookie season with the New Orleans Pelicans told the story of a young guard adjusting to the NBA’s pace and physicality. He opened with 17 points in his debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 22 and steadily grew into a more prominent role as the year unfolded. By playing all 82 games, he set a new standard for durability among Pelicans rookies.
The highlight of his season came on April 7, when he erupted for 40 points on 17-of-29 shooting in a 156–137 win over the Utah Jazz. That performance not only set the Pelicans’ franchise rookie record for most points in a game but also made him the youngest guard in NBA history to reach the 40-point mark. He finished the year averaging 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, numbers that earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team for 2026.
Looking ahead, Fears’ rookie campaign established a strong foundation for the rest of his career. With a full NBA season under his belt, franchise records already in his name, and All-Rookie recognition in hand, the 19-year-old guard enters the next phase of his development with significant momentum. His blend of scoring, playmaking, and defensive activity suggests his best basketball is still ahead.
