Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. sits atop the Associated Press’ 2026-27 preseason All-America men’s basketball team, and he came awfully close to a clean sweep.
The AP released its preseason All-America team Wednesday, and Fears drew 57 first-place votes after being selected preseason Player of the Year by CBS Sports. That left him one vote short of unanimous preseason All-America recognition.
Florida forward Thomas Haugh was right behind him with 56 votes, giving the Gators another major headline entering the season. Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, Illinois forward David Mirkovic and Arizona center Motiejus Krivas completed the five-man group. Krivas picked up 17 votes to edge Louisville’s Flory Bidunga, UConn’s Braylon Mullins and Duke’s John Blackwell for the final spot.
What stands out about this group is how familiar it all is. Even with transfers dominating so much of college basketball, every player on the AP’s top five is back with the same program he played for last season. That says plenty about how much value still gets placed on keeping core pieces in place.
Fears is coming off a huge year, averaging 15.2 points and a nation-best 9.4 assists per game in 2025-26. He returns as one of the sport’s most visible stars.
Haugh made his own statement by passing on the 2026 NBA Draft and coming back to Florida for his senior season. He remains one of the most recognizable names in the sport, and his Gators open as the No. 1 team in the preseason AP Top 25.
The rest of the All-America team also comes attached to teams with plenty of preseason buzz. Mirkovic’s Illinois team is ranked No.
3, Krivas’ Arizona squad is No. 5 and Tanner’s Vanderbilt team checks in at No. 24.
Mirkovic and Krivas helped their programs end Final Four droughts last season, while Vanderbilt reached the SEC title game and won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2012.
2026-27 AP preseason All-America team
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Sent A Clear Message To MSU Fans In Loss
An October exhibition at the Breslin Center turned into a showcase of how intense Michigan State fans can be, but it also brought a reminder from Tom Izzo about where the line should be. When UConn coach Dan Hurley was met with hostile chants during the game, Izzo stepped in and asked the crowd to stop, even as the No. 5 Huskies went on to beat No. 6 Michigan State 78-70.
The game itself still had the feel of a big-stage meeting between two nationally respected programs, with both coaches showing plenty of appreciation for the other side afterward. Izzo and Hurley each praised the opposing team and coaching, leaving the Spartans with a result they did not want but also a clear message from their own coach about how he wants the home environment handled. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Fears Jr. Just Gave Michigan State Fans A New Worry
Michigan States exhibition against UConn ended with a familiar preseason mix of promise and concern, as the Spartans fell 78-70 at Breslin Center but still got a strong performance from Jeremy Fears Jr. The guard paced the team with 23 points and eight assists, helping keep Michigan State in the game against a UConn frontcourt that controlled stretches of the night and made life difficult on the glass.
The bigger worry for the Spartans came in the second half, when Fears gave the fan base a scare after appearing to deal with an ankle issue. Even in a game that did not count in the standings, his health matters to a team trying to sort out its backcourt and tighten up before another exhibition against Marquette, especially with UConns rebounding edge serving as a reminder of how quickly preseason games can expose issues. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Have A Bigger Jeremy Fears Jr. Story Brewing
Michigan States exhibition loss to No. 4 UConn still gave the Spartans a useful look at where things stand early, and Jeremy Fears Jr. made sure he stayed at the center of it. The sophomore guard led Michigan State with 23 points and eight assists, and he looked more explosive than he did a year ago, punctuating the night with a one-handed dunk that stood out even in a game the Spartans ultimately dropped 78-70.
The bigger takeaway, though, may be how much Fears can shape everything around him if this version sticks. Michigan State also got 11 points from freshman guard Jasiah Jervis, while the starting center spot remains unsettled after Jesse McCulloch played well enough to challenge the expected starter Anton Bonke. For a team still sorting out its rotation, Fears jump is the kind of development that can change the ceiling in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]