Jeremiah Fears, the 6-3, 180-pound freshman guard from Oklahoma, has been named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. The 18-year-old basketball player has already shown a dynamic attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. Fears is a herky-jerky ball-handler who is difficult to read, going fast then slow and using either hand to toss up layups. This makes him especially potent in the open floor, and he could benefit from NBA spacing to aid his scoring efficiency at the next level when operating in the pick-and-roll and isolations. While his jumper is still a work in progress, there are some positive indicators. He shot 36.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s, 43.3% on midrange jumpers, 50% on floaters, and 85.1% on free throws. If improving his 3-pointer is only a matter of expanding his range, then he might just need time to become a major threat. Fears's pick-and-roll playmaking is another strength. If he improves his jumper and cuts down on turnovers, he could become a filthy creator using ball screens. He’s so physical on drives, yet also so shifty with a creativity to him that just needs some experience and seasoning. However, Fears has some concerns as well. He attempts way too many crazy layups and floaters, which killed his percentages in college. He also needs to develop a better feel for when to put up shots or look to distribute while improving his footwork. His perimeter shooting is still a work in progress, and he made only 27.5% of 3s in college. Until he proves he can stretch the floor reliably, NBA defenses will sag off and clog his driving lanes. Additionally, Fears needs to get significantly stronger to improve his drives and defense.
