Jeremiah Fears visits Illinois Basketball

Jeremiah Fears visits Illinois Basketball.

The irony of Jeremiah Fears’ visit to Champaign is the Illini could have had an in with him if they had signed his older brother. However, Illinois backed off of Jeremy Fears, and he committed to Michigan State. Head coach Brad Underwood and his staff know the importance of a player like Fears signing with the Illini. The Joliet native is an in-state product, and it is crucial to keep the best players in your state, well, in your state. On3.com has Fears rated as a four-star and top 40 player.

Illinois isn’t the only school that wants Fears.

Jeremiah Fears has taken unofficial visits to Oregon, Iowa, and Michigan. Though he hasn’t visited East Lansing yet, it is not a stretch to think that the younger Fears brother won’t take a trip and see Coach Izzo and his other brother at some point. That is what makes this visit to Champaign crucial. He’s made a connection with Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. “My relationship with Juwan Howard is close, Fears told On3. When I went on my visit there, it was great. He treated me like one of his own; you know he’s from my hometown.”

Fears is compiling quite the resume.

This past season, Fears had a solid season for Joliet West. He averaged 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. After the season, he decided to transfer schools. Jeremy, his brother, transferred to La Lumiere for two years before returning to Joliet West. Fears was initially going to transfer to Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas but decided to attend Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona. He has also been a fixture on the Nike EYBL circuit, playing for Brad Beale Elite, averaging 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, going 14-3.