Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. is already setting the bar impossibly high, leading the charge on the 2026-27 CBS Sports Preseason All-America First Team after dropping a ridiculous 9.4 assists per game last season, tops in all of college basketball. The man is a wizard with the ball, and he’s just one of the elite talents sticking around longer thanks to all the shifts in college athletics. Forget the debates about revenue-sharing and NIL deals for a second, because the bottom line is these changes are keeping the best players in the game for more than a cup of coffee.
The Unanimous Picks And The Game-Changers
This isn’t your daddy’s college hoops, seriously. We’ve got guys like Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, and Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder, who in any other era would already be gone, chasing pro dreams. De Ridder was even a professional player from Belgium before even enrolling. But now? These guys are established college stars, passing on professional opportunities to either enroll or stay put. Haugh and Fears Jr. were both unanimous selections for the First Team, chosen by a panel of writers and analysts, showing just how much respect they command. You know it’s a new day when the talent level in the NCAA is this stacked with vets.
First Team Firepower And The Conference Power Grab
So, who else made the cut for the Preseason All-America First Team? Alongside Fears Jr., you’ve got Thomas Haugh and Tyler Tanner, both absolute favorites to snag SEC Player of the Year honors. Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes and Illinois sophomore David Mirkovic round out that elite squad. Think about that: a whopping 40% of the First Team comes straight from either the Big Ten or SEC. Does that surprise anyone? Not really, considering those are the two richest conferences in the game, and they’re flexing that financial muscle to keep their stars.
On the Second Team, we’ve got Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, a 6-foot-9 forward who was the 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year. The dude’s an absolute beast, but he’s got a question mark hanging over him after tearing the ACL in his right knee back in February. It’s a tough break, and it means he might not be available when the season kicks off. As for the rest of the conference landscape, the Big 12 and SEC lead the way with four All-Americans each across all three teams, followed by the ACC and Big Ten with three apiece, and the Big East chipping in one. Big ups to UConn, too, as Silas Demary is their sole Preseason All-American, making them the only school outside the Power Four to get that nod.
Jeremy Fears Jr.’s Assist Machine Is Off The Charts
Let’s dive back into Jeremy Fears Jr. for a second, because his numbers are just insane. Last season, he wasn’t just good at passing, he was historic. Fears Jr. led ALL of college basketball in assists, dishing out a ridiculous 9.4 dimes per game. But it gets crazier: his 53.1 assist rate, according to KenPom.com, was the BEST MARK IN THE LAST TWO DECADES. That’s not just good, that’s generational. He was flirting with a mind-boggling 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which tells you he’s not just slinging the ball around, he’s doing it with precision. No Big Ten player has ever averaged more than 10 assists in a single season, and Fears Jr. is right there on the brink of shattering that barrier.
This season is about to get wild, and it all tips off on November 1. Keep your eyes locked on Fears Jr. and the rest of these All-Americans. They are primed to deliver some must-watch hoops, and you know they’re gonna define the early narrative of the college basketball season.
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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