Author: alaskaadmin

Meet the point guard who’s an extension of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo on the court. The men’s college basketball season is ramping up with high-stakes games every night and the NCAA Tournament just around the corner. In those key regular-season games, March Madness stars introduce themselves to the nation with magical moments and Cinderella runs. We’re teaching you about them before they become national heroes. Ahead of No. 5 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), let us help you get to know Jeremy Fears Jr. 1. Player Build Fears is a 6-foot-2 junior point guard. He’s a rugged player who epitomizes everything Izzo wants in a point guard — fearless, tough, good decision-maker. 2. Dime For Days Fears leads the Big Ten in total assists (204) and is second to Purdue star Braden Smith in assists per game (8.9). He also has a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, second among Big Ten point guards behind only Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg. 3. Controversy Fears came under fire for seemingly committing unnecessary contact with his opponents during Michigan State’s games against Michigan and Minnesota. After the rivalry game against the Wolverines, Michigan head coach Dusty May accused Fears of tripping one of his star players, forward Yaxel Lendeborg. During the game against the Golden Gophers, Fears was called for a technical foul after kicking Minnesota forward Langston Reynolds between the legs. 4. Family Ties Fears’ younger brother, Jeremiah, was the seventh overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s averaging 13.3 points and 2.9 assists while starting at point guard in his rookie season with the Pelicans. Jeremiah played at Oklahoma last season. The two shared a backcourt at Joliet West High School in Illinois in 2022. 5. Career Briefly Paused Between his freshman and sophomore years, Fears survived a gunshot wound while in his hometown of Joilet, Illinois. He needed surgery on his thigh and didn’t play another game in the 2023-24 season. He returned to the court for the start of his sophomore year.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Illinois fans endear him. Purdue fans fear him. The men’s college basketball season is ramping up with high-stakes games every night and the NCAA tournament just around the corner. In those key regular-season games, March Madness stars introduce themselves to the nation with magical moments and Cinderella runs. We’re teaching you about them before they become national heroes. Ahead of No. 5 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), let us help you get to know Keaton Wagler. 1. Player Build Wagler, a 6-foot-6 freshman point guard, is both the primary play-initiator and go-to scorer for the Fighting Illini. His tight, quick handle allows him to create room for his own shots and penetrate the lane to set up his teammates. 2. Instant Success Wagler leads all Big Ten freshman with 17.9 points per game. He set the record for the most points by an opponent in Purdue’s Mackey Arena when he scored 46 points to lift the Illini over the Boilermakers on Jan. 24. 3. Conference Accolades Wagler has earned both freshman and player of the week honors in the Big Ten after his breakout game against Purdue. Wagler has also lifted Illinois into a tie with No. 2 Michigan at the top of the conference standings. 4. Underrated Wagler was the No. 150 ranked recruit in the 2025 freshman class, per 247Sports. He only got two offers from Power 4 schools — Minnesota and Illinois. He’s now in the conversation to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. 5. Blind Trust Wagler was the first American prospect Illinois coach Brad Underwood offered without seeing him play in high school in person, The Athletic reported. Underwood’s son, Tyler, an assistant coach at Illinois, scouted Wagler and convinced his father to recruit the guard. Underwood, reportedly, felt more comfortable trusting film after adding two overseas players — David Mirkovic and Mihailo Petrovic, whom he didn’t see play live — to his roster.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports