Jeremy Fears Jr., the Michigan State point guard, has officially earned the CBS Sports Preseason Player of the Year honor, a monumental recognition for a player whose journey has been anything but easy. This isn’t just some casual nod; it was voted on by CBS Sports writers, on-air talent, and 247Sports experts, putting him right at the top of the college hoops conversation before the season even tips off.
Fears Jr. Defied Everything to Get Here
Let’s be real, Fears Jr.’s story is the kind of grit and determination we all love to see. He came into the 2025-26 season with a serious chip on his shoulder, needing to prove what he could do. His first year in 2023-24? Most of it was spent recovering from a gunshot wound. Can you even imagine? Then in his second season, 2024-25, he was sharing the spotlight in Michigan State’s backcourt. But with the Spartans needing a leader after replacing their top three scorers from a 30-win team, Coach Tom Izzo needed Fears Jr. to level up. And he absolutely did. Last year, he led Michigan State in scoring with 15.2 points per game and, get this, led the *entire nation* in assists at 9.4 per contest. That kind of play earned him CBS Sports third-team All-American honors as he steered Michigan State to a solid 27-8 record. It’s a huge comeback, and now he’s considered the most valuable player in the country by many.
The Race for College Hoops Supremacy
For the past two years, Duke had the best player in college hoops with freshmen Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer winning National Player of the Year. But before that, we saw vets like Zach Edey, Oscar Tshiebwe, Luka Garza, and Obi Toppin dominate. It looks like we’re heading back to a season where a more experienced player might take the crown, and Fears Jr. is right in the thick of it. He wasn’t the only one getting votes though. Tyler Tanner, a First Team All-American point guard for Vanderbilt, is projected to have one of the highest usage rates in the country this season. He’s put on some serious weight and could be set for Vandy’s best season ever. Florida senior Thomas Haugh also got some love after deciding to return to the Gators, even turning down a likely top-20 NBA draft pick. Haugh’s surrounded by the best frontcourt in college basketball with Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, which could both boost his game and maybe steal some of his spotlight. But for now, the buzz is all about Fears Jr. He’s looking to join the elite company of Shawn Respert, Draymond Green, and Denzel Valentine as Michigan State National Player of the Year winners. Even Magic Johnson didn’t win that award; Larry Bird swept it in 1978-79. Tom Izzo’s got his floor general back, and the college hoops world is ready to see what he does.
Fears Jr. has already shown he can lead, overcome adversity, and dominate the stat sheet. With Tom Izzo backing him, and the entire college hoops world watching, it’s gonna be a wild ride to see if he can make that preseason nod a reality.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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